Tottenham are back in the market for a new number 10 once again, after they were beaten to the punch by Arsenal for Eberechi Eze, and it is a saga that Daniel Levy will want to forget very quickly.
After nearly a fortnight of back and forth between Crystal Palace and Spurs, the Lilywhites reached a verbal club-to-club agreement for Eze earlier this week, after also agreeing personal terms with the 27-year-old himself.
However, despite Levy’s deal being on the verge of completion at one stage, Kai Havertz’s injury prompted Tottenham’s north London rivals to swoop in and hijack their advanced move for Eze.
The England international ultimately chose to join Arsenal instead, with an agreement to sign for the Gunners now sealed and all hope of Tottenham signing him lost.
Given Mikel Arteta’s side managed to strike a deal in the space of one day, it isn’t a good look for Tottenham, who must get over their second public humiliation of the window after also missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White.
This summer’s pool of star playmakers who can genuinely make a difference is starting to run low, but Frank’s glaring need for a creative force remains after losing James Maddison to an ACL rupture – which is expected to keep him out for the majority of 2025/2026.
Spurs were once planning to head into the season with both Gibbs-White and Maddison, but ended up with neither. They also can’t turn towards Eze as a proven alternative to the pair either, so the situation has now reached emergency level crisis mode.
In terms of who they could still bring in before the looming transfer deadline, Southampton’s Tyler Dibling and Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott remain rumoured options, at least for now.
Another player they’re now considering is Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss.
Totenham make approach to hijack Crystal Palace deal for El Khannouss
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham have inquired about El Khannouss’ situation after losing the race for Eze, and they could exact revenge on Palace in the process by hijacking the Eagles’ transfer.
Leicester City's BilalElKhannouss
Palace are apparently close to agreeing a £32m deal for the Morocco international (Sky Sports), after his £22.5m relegation clause expired recently, but the deal is still not completely done.
The 21-year-old averaged more key passes per 90 in the top flight than any other Foxes player last term, before they were relegated, and he’s even drawn comparisons to Man City sensation Rayan Cherki.
Salman Agha has promised to deliver a brand of “fearless cricket” as he becomes the fourth T20I captain for Pakistan since January 2024. Agha replaced Mohammad Rizwan as T20I captain for the upcoming white-ball tour to New Zealand, the latest in a revolving door of captains that has seen Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam come and go before him.Pakistan’s results have remained poor, highlighted by a group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup last year, in which they lost to the USA. That has prompted a wholesale change in the squad, with a number of new faces and, significantly, the absence of a few familiar ones.Chief among them are Rizwan and Babar, whose batting at the top of the order has widely been as a key cause for Pakistan’s outdated, risk-averse approach. While the door has not been permanently shut on them in the format, it is clear they have been dropped, not rested.Related
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“It’s an honour for me and also a challenge,” Agha said at a press conference in Lahore. “We’ve brought a few youngsters into the team who have been playing the brand of cricket in domestic cricket that we want to play in the national side going forward.”We have to focus on our intent and approach. We have to improve that. In modern day cricket, these things are important. This is a young team and we want to play fearless cricket. That is high-risk cricket, which is a requirement in modern cricket. There will be failures with that approach, but we have to support our players.”The PCB said it has made Agha captain with an eye on the Asia Cup (in the T20 format) later this year and the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year. They have recalled Shadab Khan, a player in tune with this brand of cricket, as vice-captain ostensibly for this project.”The reason for Shadab coming back is that he has good captaincy experience, plus also his mindset is to play aggressive cricket,” explained the interim head coach Aaqib Javed. “His mindset is important because as vice-captain, with Agha also thinking that way, Shadab will be good. The combination is good.”Aaqib, who is also the selection head, remains in those positions for the series of five T20Is and three ODIs against New Zealand, though there has been speculation about a new coach. Asked specifically about the fates of Babar and Rizwan, he linked their non-selection clearly to the style of play Pakistan were hoping to adopt.”You can’t rule anyone out forever, but for the moment, we feel that we need to bring in newer, younger players and change the style of cricket we are playing,” he said. “Many teams have separated their T20 sides from the others, up to 80-90% [of the personnel] different.”Afridi and Haris Rauf missing from the ODI squad add to the sense of big-name axings, and Aaqib was clear that they would have to go back to domestic cricket to improve their games.”Top players like Babar, Shaheen, Riz, they travel so much they don’t have time to play their domestic cricket,” he said. “Now they have time to play domestic cricket. Until you play four-day cricket you will not improve in Tests or ODIs. It cannot be that you play 70% T20 cricket all year and then suddenly you play Tests or ODIs.[File photo] Shaheen Shah Afridi has been dropped from the ODI side, while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are out of the T20I side•AFP/Getty Images
“The players have to think about this themselves because ultimately they are responsible for their own game. You can’t force players… don’t players have a responsibility themselves to think about their game and where it is going? That I should sacrifice and take a break from T20 and play four-day or List A so that I can get my form back?”Both Agha and Aaqib spoke of developing a pool of 20-25 players for Pakistan to work with over the next 18 months or so. Both also stressed that backing them through failures would be just as important.Aaqib acknowledged the instability that has beset Pakistan cricket over the last couple of years, of which he is, for now, a beneficiary.”We have changed nearly 16 coaches and 26 selectors in the last two years or so,” he said. “You put that formula on any team in the world, I think they will also be in the same situation. Until you get consistency right from the top down to the bottom, from the chairman down, then your team will not progress.”
The closing days of the transfer window have rarely been straightforward on Tyneside. Newcastle United’s summer has already been defined by turbulence, with Alexander Isak refusing to reintegrate with the squad.
Eddie Howe’s side, who finished fifth last season and are preparing for a Champions League campaign, are under pressure to refine their squad while managing the fallout of internal distractions.
So far, the Magpies have done solid business.
The arrivals of Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga have freshened up the squad with youth and Premier League experience.
Most recently, a £69m deal was struck with Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade, the towering German forward who had been courted by Bayern Munich before Newcastle convinced him to make the switch.
Despite the new additions, the midfield remains an area of particular concern.
Joelinton, one of Howe’s most important lieutenants, limped off in the defeat against Liverpool, raising doubts about their fitness in the weeks to come.
In this context, Newcastle’s recruitment team has set its sights astonishingly high, making enquiries about one of Europe’s most coveted defensive midfielders – a player widely regarded as one of the finest in his position.
Newcastle’s make offer for midfield sensation
According to reports from Spain, Newcastle recently lodged a bid with Real Madrid for France international Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The 25-year-old has long been considered a cornerstone of the Spanish giants’ midfield, and sources suggest Los Blancos wasted no time in rejecting the approach.
Madrid are understood to have already rebuffed a €100m (£90m) bid, setting a firm valuation of over €200m (£185m) to ward off interest.
Club officials, and new manager Xabi Alonso, view Tchouaméni as untouchable.
Having been heavily criticised last season, the Frenchman displayed resilience and tactical maturity, winning back the trust of both teammates and supporters.
He has since emerged as a key figure in Real’s long-term project, combining physicality with intelligence and composure under pressure.
Writer Raj Chohan, speaking on the player’s profile, described him as “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet.”
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni
For Newcastle, the enquiry was little more than exploratory.
The PIF-backed ownership has demonstrated its willingness to pursue ambitious targets, but the reality is that Real Madrid are unwilling to negotiate at this stage of the window.
Still, the move itself reflects Newcastle’s intent to match their lofty ambitions with equally elite personnel, even if such pursuits appear beyond reach in the short term.
Comparing Tchouaméni and Guimarães
The comparison with Bruno Guimarães is inevitable.
Bruno Guimaraes
The Newcastle captain has been central to the Magpies’ transformation since his arrival, but many observers might suggest that Tchouaméni represents an even higher ceiling in the defensive midfield role.
Both are internationals – Bruno with 35 caps for Brazil and Tchouaméni with 41 appearances for France, including a starring role at the 2022 World Cup – yet their profiles and statistical outputs highlight differing strengths.
In possession, Bruno offers greater attacking thrust.
Matches Played
38
Goals
5
Assists
6
Progressive Carries
74
Progressive Passes
271
According to FBref, last season he averaged 1.24 shots per 90, with 0.36 on target, and produced 3.66 shot-creating actions per 90.
His progressive passing numbers were also outstanding, with 7.47 progressive passes per 90 and 216.5 progressive passing distance.
These metrics reveal a player comfortable dictating tempo while also pushing Newcastle forward in transition.
Tchouaméni, by contrast, leans more toward control and precision.
According to FBref, he attempted and completed far more passes overall, averaging 62.5 completed passes per 90 at a staggering 92.3% success rate, compared to Bruno’s 40.8 at 82.3%.
His ability to recycle possession without error is invaluable in a side like Madrid, where maintaining rhythm is paramount.
The Frenchman also excels at advancing the ball over distance, with 357.7 progressive passing distance per 90, underscoring his ability to bypass opposition lines.
Defensively, both players bring tenacity, but in distinct ways.
Bruno averaged 2.29 tackles per 90, highlighting his willingness to press and break up play higher up the pitch.
Tchouaméni, however, demonstrated more balance, contributing 1.57 tackles per 90 alongside 1.14 blocks, while also being one of the top midfielders in Europe for aerial duels.
At 1.88m, his physical presence makes him an imposing shield in front of the back line – a trait Newcastle arguably lack when Bruno is deployed as the deepest midfielder.
The statistics paint a clear picture: Bruno is more adventurous, combining flair and playmaking with defensive graft, while Tchouaméni epitomises composure, efficiency, and tactical balance.
Both are invaluable, but in different contexts. For Real Madrid, the Frenchman’s precision and resilience make him untouchable.
For Newcastle, Bruno remains indispensable as captain, though the speculation reflects a desire to add depth and variation at the base of midfield.
Bruno Guimaraes celebrates for Newcastle
Ultimately, Newcastle’s enquiry may have been quickly dismissed, but it speaks volumes about the club’s ambition.
With a Champions League campaign looming and pressure mounting domestically, the Magpies are aiming for world-class reinforcements to complement their growing project.
While a move for Tchouaméni is off the table for now, the intent shown is unlikely to go unnoticed – both in Europe’s elite boardrooms and among supporters eager to see Newcastle compete at the highest level.
Upgrade on Joelinton: Newcastle in talks over signing “one of the best CMs”
Newcastle are looking to make another addition to their midfield ranks…
While they haven’t gone quite as big as they have in windows prior, it’s been a good summer of business for Chelsea so far this year.
The Blues have made a massive amount of money selling players deemed no longer good enough and replaced them with a host of exciting talents like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jorrel Hato.
However, it would probably be fair to say that some fans were left a little disappointed by the club not signing Xavi Simons last week, and instead opting for Alejandro Garnacho.
However, those supporters might soon forget all about the new Tottenham Hotspur star, as Chelsea appear to be closing in on someone who’d be a significant upgrade.
Chelsea target Simons upgrade
According to a recent report from Si Phillips, as relayed by Caught Offside, Chelsea remain incredibly keen to sign Fermin Lopez before the window shuts.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
More than that, though, Phillips has revealed that, in recent hours, the Blues have received encouragement from the player’s camp, which indicates he may well inform Barcelona that he wants to leave.
While that would undoubtedly help grease the wheels of any potential deal, the deal would still be a costly one, with other reports from today claiming that the Catalan giants would want a fee of up to €90m to sell, which is approximately £78m.
While that is an enormous sum of money, Lopez is an extraordinary talent and may well be worth it, especially as he’s an upgrade on Simons.
How Lopez compares to Simons
Simons and Lopez are both relatively young attacking talents who can play and thrive either on the wing or in attacking midfield, which makes comparing them a pretty straightforward affair.
If we start with their output, it quickly becomes very apparent that the young Spaniard is the more dangerous player.
In 46 appearances, totalling just 2039 minutes, the “creative” star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored eight goals and provided ten assists.
That means he managed to average a goal involvement every 2.55 games, or every 113.27 minutes, which is undeniably impressive for someone his age.
On the other hand, the Flying Dutchman scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, for Leipzig.
Now, that does result in a better average of goal involvement every 1.73 games, but that was largely due to him making fewer appearances than the Barcelona star.
When you look at minutes played, his average shoots up to a far less impressive figure of a goal involvement every 145.42 minutes.
Things do not get much better for the Lilywhites’ new star when we examine their underlying numbers either.
Here, the “spectacular” Spaniard, as dubbed by former manager Xavi, comes out ahead in most relevant metrics such as expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, tackles won and more, all per 90.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.71
0.47
Non-Penalty G+As
0.75
0.57
Progressive Passes
5.05
5.80
Progressive Passes Received
7.90
7.61
Progressive Carries
2.26
3.51
Shots
2.81
2.26
Shots on Target
1.14
0.92
Passing Accuracy
82.2%
78.1%
Key Passes
1.88
2.10
Passes into the Final Third
4.19
3.26
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.32
0.22
Goal-Creating Actions
0.54
0.51
Tackles Won
1.32
0.83
Blocks
1.02
0.87
Successful Take-Ons
1.72
1.45
Carries into the Penalty Area
0.97
0.80
In other words, the El Campillo-born maestro appears to be the more dangerous and creative outlet, while also being more willing and able to contribute to the defensive side of things.
Ultimately, Simons is certainly a talented player, but Lopez appears to be better in almost all metrics; therefore, Chelsea should do everything possible to sign him before the window closes.
Their own Gyokeres: Chelsea make late move to sign "aggressive" £69m star
Chelsea could snap up their very own Viktor Gyokeres with this late £69m swoop.
Your ready reckoner for the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals, to be played in Pune, Nagpur, Kolkata and Rajkot from Saturday
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Feb-2025FixturesJammu & Kashmir vs Kerala in Pune, from 9.30am IST Vidarbha vs Tamil Nadu in Nagpur, from 9.30am IST Haryana vs Mumbai in Kolkata, from 9am IST Saurashtra vs Gujarat in Rajkot, from 9.30am ISTJammu & Kashmir vs KeralaHow they got here: J&K topped Elite Group A with five wins in seven games, including one over Mumbai, the 42-time and defending champions. Kerala, meanwhile, finished second behind Haryana – by just a point, but a vastly superior net run-rate – in Elite Group C.Top performers J&K Shubham Khajuria – 663 runs in 12 innings at an average of 55.25 with a top score of 255 Auqib Nabi – 38 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 13.44 with a best of 6 for 54Kerala Salman Nizar – 399 runs in eight innings at an average of 66.50 with a top score of 150 Jalaj Saxena – 33 wickets in 11 innings at an average of 14.81 with a best of 6 for 41Keep an eye on… The three J&K quicks, Auqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh and Umar NazirRelated
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Vidarbha vs Tamil NaduHow they got here: Vidarbha was the standout team in the group stage, scoring 40 points – five clear of the next best, J&K – with six wins in seven games in Elite Group B. The one that got away was Gujarat, but that too could have gone their way with a bit more time. Tamil Nadu have the bonus points system to thank for their place in the knockouts. They won three of their seven games in Elite Group D, the same as group-toppers Saurashtra, but third-placed Chandigarh actually won four games. That said, Tamil Nadu lost just one game, while Chandigarh lost three.Top performers Vidarbha Yash Rathod – 603 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50.25 with a top score of 135 Akshay Wadkar – 556 runs in 12 innings at an average of 55.60 with a top score of 139 Harsh Dubey – 55 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 14.50 with a best of 6 for 36 (he is the top wicket-taker in the competition so far, 17 ahead of second-placed Nabi)Tamil Nadu N Jagadeesan – 634 runs in 11 innings at an average of 63.40 with a top score of 118 not out C Andre Siddarth – 532 runs in ten innings at an average of 76.00 with a top score of 106 Vijay Shankar – 449 runs in nine innings at an average of 64.14 with a top score of 150 not out S Ajith Ram – 31 wickets in nine innings at an average of 17.12 with a best of 5 for 34Keep an eye on… The batters from either side – there’s a lot of firepower there – and Dubey, the 22-year-old left-arm spinner is clearly special. Not to forget Karun Nair, who has had a sensational List A season with Vidarbha and hasn’t been too shabby in the Ranji Trophy either.Haryana vs MumbaiHow they got here: Haryana did just about enough to top Elite Group C, with 29 points to second-placed Kerala’s 28, both teams winning three and drawing four. Mumbai, for a while, looked like they might not make the knockouts, but they had a party against Meghalaya in their final game, winning by an innings and 456 runs, to get past Baroda, who lost their last game to J&K.Top performers Haryana Himanshu Rana – 424 runs from 11 innings at an average of 42.40 with a top score of 114 Ankit Kumar – 427 runs from 12 innings at an average of 38.81 with a top score of 118 Anshul Kamboj – 29 wickets in ten innings at an average of 11.75 with a best of 10 for 49Mumbai Siddhesh Lad – 518 runs from eight innings at an average of 86.33 with a top score of 169 not out Ayush Mhatre – 413 runs from ten innings at an average of 41.30 with a top score of 176; Shardul Thakur – 381 runs from eight innings at an average of 47.62 with a top score of 119 and 24 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 23.95 with a best of 4 for 43 Shams Mulani – 34 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 23.00 with a best of 6 for 115Keep an eye on… Shardul Thakur – he could well be in the fray when India play Test cricket next, in England in JuneSaurashtra vs GujaratHow they got here: Saurashtra topped Elite Group D narrowly after the top three – Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh – were tied on points, while Gujarat finished a distant second to Vidarbha in Elite Group B after winning four and drawing three.Top performers Saurashtra Harvik Desai – 511 runs in ten innings at an average of 56.77 with a top score of 155 Chirag Jani – 486 runs in ten innings at an average of 54.00 with a top score of 198 Dharmendrasinh Jadeja – 35 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 20.40 with a best of 6 for 51Gujarat Manan Hingrajia – 487 runs in 11 innings at an average of 44.27 with a top score of 181 Siddharth Desai – 33 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 23.06 with a best of 9. For 36Keep an eye on… If Cheteshwar Pujara is playing, it has to be him. But there’s a lot talent scattered across these two line-ups demanding attentionHow to followAll the four games are going to be streamed on JioCinema. You can get all the latest updates on ESPNcricinfo as usual, too. But if you are in Pune, Nagpur, Kolkata or Rajkot, why not hop across and watch it live, at least over the weekend?
Sunderland are on the hunt for some late deals and have submitted an enticing proposal to land a creative operator in the engine room, according to a report.
Sunderland continue mission to recruit late arrivals
The Black Cats have made quite the impression in the transfer window and don’t look to be done yet as they aim to give themselves a fighting chance of Premier League survival.
Aside from recruitment, Regis Le Bris made it clear that his side’s home form over the coming months will be critical if they are to stay in the top-flight for the foreseeable future, urging his players to feed off the energy of a raucous support.
Sunderland managerRegisLeBrisapplauds fans after the match
He stated: “They are a key pillar of our identity. Sunderland is made with this support. If we don’t use it properly then it doesn’t make sense. If our fans recognise this identity, the willingness, the togetherness – they are happier when we win and that is fair, but we know this won’t be possible every time. If we are connected with this ambition and commitment, it will be a massive strength for us.”
Of course, enticing stars to play in front of faithful supporters is half the battle, though it appears they are doing a fine job, given Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi is set to join Sunderland in the coming days.
Furthermore, Juventus star Lloyd Kelly has been linked with a surprise move to Wearside, though they will also face competition from Crystal Palace for the former Newcastle United man.
Sunderland make transfer offer for £50,000-a-week World Cup semi-finalist
The Black Cats are on fire this summer.
ByHenry Jackson Aug 29, 2025
Driving some hard bargains between now and Monday will be essential for Sunderland to maximise strength in depth, and they could now be set to complete another landmark capture if reports are to be believed.
Sunderland submit considerable Joey Veerman bid
According to De Telegraaf via Transfer Feed, Sunderland have submitted a bid worth over £26 million for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman and the Netherlands international could now be in line for a late move to the Stadium of Light.
In response, the Eredivisie outfit have identified Anderlecht star Mario Stroeykens as a replacement that they want to bring in urgently due to the time of the window.
Offering a creative presence in the engine room, Veerman fashioned 71 chances on league duty for his teammates last term, per Fotmob, and netted once, alongside providing 12 assists in 40 appearances.
Continuing on a similar path, he has struck once and laid on two more efforts inside three outings across 2025/26, illustrating a level of vision that would help Sunderland carve out opportunities in the top-flight.
With a deal looking somewhat likely, Veerman would add to a new-look midfield at the Stadium of Light this summer that already includes the likes of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki, albeit it may be intriguing to see exactly where he fits in.
O atacante Jean Dias certamente irá demorar para esquecer o dia 25 de junho de 2023 pelos melhores motivos possíveis. Além de fazer seu primeiro jogo como titular no Internacional, ele também marcou o tento da igualdade contra o América-MG, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, que abriu caminho para a virada no marcador concretizada por Alemão.
Após o confronto, a sensação de felicidade era notória no semblante do atleta de 32 anos de idade que chegou ao Colorado após campanha destacada junto ao Caxias no vice-campeonato do Gauchão deste ano. Na oportunidade, foram três gols e cinco assistências em 14 compromissos.
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– É um momento muito especial na minha carreira. Desde que cheguei aqui no Internacional deixei claro que é a realização de um sonho e tenho feito de tudo para poder ajudar a equipe. Estou muito feliz com o gol marcado e mais ainda com a vitória conquistada. Enfrentamos um adversário difícil, passamos por adversidades dentro da partida, mas mostramos força e conseguimos conquistar os três pontos – pontuou.
Este foi o 11° confronto disputado por Jean Dias desde a sua chegada ao Inter, tendo colaborado também com uma assistência até o momento quando deu passe para Maurício fazer um dos gols no triunfo por 2 a 1 sobre o Flamengo. O jogo em questão ocorreu no Beira-Rio, em 23 de abril.
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Diante da importância do confronto da próxima quarta-feira (28) onde o Colorado decide sua vida na Libertadores, contra o Independiente Medellín, Jean tratou de assegurar que a concentração do elenco de Mano Menezes está inteiramente no confronto continental assim que o árbitro apitou o fim do confronto pelo Brasileirão:
– Nós agora já mudamos o foco para este duelo contra o Independiente Medellín. Sabemos as dificuldades que vamos enfrentar, é um grande adversário, muito qualificado e que vai nos trazer grandes desafios. Mas, nós vamos jogar dentro de casa e tenho certeza que o Beira-Rio estará lotado e, com o apoio da nossa torcida, vamos em busca da vitória que nos dará a classificação para a próxima fase.
Matt Henry finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy despite missing the final
Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Mar-20255:26
Santner: ‘Rohit puts fear in bowlers’
Matt Henry had been desperate to play in the final of the Champions Trophy. He had taken five wickets in the previous match in Dubai, against India. He was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker. And even after he suffered the injury to the shoulder as he took the catch that removed Heinrich Klaasen in the semi-final against South Africa, he came back and bowled two further overs, and fielded.And yet, the injury kept him out of the final, against an opposition he has tended to dominate. In 11 ODIs against India, he has 21 wickets at an average of 21.00, with an economy rate of 4.48. India’s chase in Dubai suffered stutters through the middle, but they eventually got home with four wickets to spare, and an over in reserve.Henry was missed, said captain Mitchell Santner. His replacement Nathan Smith only bowled two overs in the final. Henry went through a fitness test just before the game, and was visibly distraught as he was failing it.Related
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“He was the leading wicket-taker going into this game, and he’s an outstanding bowler, as we’ve seen,” Santner said. Henry’s ten wickets at an average of 16.70 still leads the Champions Trophy wickets chart, despite his missing the final. “He seems to be able to nip it on wickets that don’t look like they should nip, so I guess we missed that today. I feel for Matty. He’s a massive team man, and he looked pretty distraught.”We just kind of said, like, let’s do it for him. To come this far and then be injured for the main event was pretty tough for him and I guess for us. He tried everything he could to be ready for this game, and unfortunately for us, he wasn’t quite there.”There were other battles that New Zealand had had to fight through in the course of the tournament. Where India played all five matches in Dubai, New Zealand had to zip between Dubai and all three venues in Pakistan – the only team in the Champions Trophy to play at four venues.Rachin Ravindra, the Player of the Tournament with 263 runs at an average of 65.75 and a strike rate of 106.47, plus three wickets, had also suffered a blow to his forehead attempting a catch in the outfield in the tri-series in Pakistan that preceded the Champions Trophy. Kyle Jamieson, meanwhile, was a late replacement for Lockie Ferguson, who was injured playing in the ILT20.1:27
Southee: Henry not playing the final a ‘massive loss’ for New Zealand
“It’s never going to go perfectly in these tournaments, I guess, with the quick turnaround of games like we had,” Santner said. “But I think what’s most pleasing is different guys got opportunities and stepped up as. I couldn’t be prouder of the group.”There were guys coming in and out due to injury. And then the way Rachin came back straightaway after his head knock and hit the ground running was great. And Kyle Jamieson flying over and coming straight into the team – I thought he bowled extremely well in the games he played.”Although New Zealand made mistakes in the field as they attempted to defend a target of 253 in the final, it was the first innings that had been definitive, Santner said. New Zealand were 57 for no wicket after 7.4 overs, but then lost Will Young, Ravindra and Kane Williamson in quick succession, to be 75 for 3 after 12.2 overs. Varun Chakravarthy struck the first blow, before Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Ravindra and Williamson within his first seven deliveries.”I think the way we went about it for the first eight overs or so was outstanding. And then it took some brilliance from the spinners to really peg us back and make it challenging through that middle phase,” Santner said. “After the start, we were probably thinking of a score around 275 or 280. Credit has to go to Kuldeep for the way he bowled straight after the powerplay, and Varun inside the powerplay.”
Tyrique George saved Chelsea's blushes with a goal and an assist but goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen had a shocker in the absence of Robert Sanchez. The Blues came from a goal down to knock Lincoln City out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 third round win but the Club World Cup champions were given a real scare. There will be plenty to ponder for Enzo Maresca, especially after a wretched first half.
Chelsea appeared to have a hangover from their 2-1 loss to Manchester United at the weekend as Lincoln began in ferocious fashion. After Lewis Montsma's shot hit the post and the Blues survived a goalmouth scramble, the hosts deservedly took the lead in the 42nd minute when Rob Street pounced upon some shocking defending at the back.
The west London outfit looked down and out at the break, but George's piledriver from the edge of the box levelled the scores in the 48th minute, and then Facundo Buonanotte made it 2-1 after waltzing by some would-be defenders two minutes later.
Maresca's team never looked secure with their lead, particularly as Jorgensen was having a shocker in the Chelsea goal. But in the end, they just about squeaked past the League One team on Tuesday night to progress to the next round.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from LNER Stadium…
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Filip Jorgensen (3/10):
After Sanchez's clumsy red card at the weekend, this was a time for Chelsea's number two to stand up and be counted. But he looked very unconvincing in his own box and flapped at multiple crosses. Just not good enough and nearly took out his own team-mates.
Malo Gusto (4/10):
Seems to have gone backwards from last season. Doesn't seem secure in defence or attack.
Wesley Fofana (7/10):
The injury-prone defender looked like he had suffered a new blow early on but gamely carried on and did a decent job.
Trevoh Chalobah (5/10):
Wasn't helped by Fernandez's cross-field pass for Lincoln's opener but he didn't react quick enough to the danger. Has gone off the boil of late.
Jorrel Hato (6/10):
The summer signing from Ajax didn't look comfortable in the first half but improved as the game wore on.
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Enzo Fernandez (4/10):
His oh-so-casual pass across the box led to Lincoln taking the lead. Seemed to get outmuscled in midfield and lost a few 50/50s. The captain didn't exactly lead by example.
Andrey Santos (5/10):
The Brazilian is a big step down from the combative Moises Caicedo in Chelsea's central midfield. Unlikely to become a starter anytime soon.
Facundo Buonanotte (6/10):
The game seemed to pass him by early on but the Brighton loanee somehow managed to grab a goal as he capitalised on some very soft defending.
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Jamie Gittens (5/10):
After dropping down the pecking order at the club, the ex-Borussia Dortmund winger needed to impress tonight. While he showed flashes of quality, he has to bring more in attack.
Tyrique George (7/10):
Took his goal in spectacular fashion to kickstart Chelsea's fightback and assisted Buonanotte soon after. The teenager nearly joined Fulham earlier this month but he is taking his chance now.
Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):
Was loudly booed every time he touched the ball, and it seemed his detractors got to him as he had little impact. The ex-United man was hooked before the hour mark.
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Estevao Willian (5/10):
His tricks and flicks didn't have as much effect here as they have in the Premier League.
Shim Mheuka (5/10):
The 17-year-old didn't really get a chance to get on the ball and looked unsettled.
Marc Cucurella (7/10):
Instantly provided more quality and control when he came on.
Pedro Neto (7/10):
Troubled Lincoln's backline with his pace and directness. Chelsea's best winger on the night.
Reggie Walsh (N/A)
Came on with seconds to spare.
Enzo Maresca (6/10):
His team seemed shell-shocked early on as they barely weathered a Lincoln storm. He must have done a heck of a halftime team talk as his players looked unrecognisable after the break. Didn't match Lincoln's hunger for long periods and was fortunate to sneak through this one.
Robert Lewandowski has been urged to leave Barcelona to once again become the main man in a top team. Legendary Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski believes his compatriot is being unfairly sidelined in favour of other big names at Barcelona and that he should leave the club to seek a new opportunity. He added that the striker's 17th place finish in the Ballon d'Or was too low.
Lewandowski tipped to move to Saudi Arabia
Tomaszewski insisted that the forward should put an end to his stay at the Catalan giants in favour of a move at a club where he is more popular. The former goalkeeper suggested he should follow the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema by moving to the Saudi Pro League.
He told : "Robert should now close the Barcelona chapter and go to a club in Saudi Arabia, just like the best players in the world – except Messi – have done. Robert is not very popular in the team and the best players do not give him the ball."
It seems a bizarre claim for Tomaszewski to make, given Lewandowski played 34 times in La Liga last season and scored 27 goals. The Pole has started this season strongly too, adding three goals in five games. It is also unclear whether Lewandowski would want to move to a perceived weaker division, when he is currently still performing to a high level at one of the world’s best clubs.
Lewandowski was named as the 17th best player in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, a ranking which Tomaszewski believes was too low. “Robert has made it onto the list of 30 nominees for the tenth time, and that's what counts,” he said. “The journalists decide where he'll end up. I think he should be in the top ten.
“The winner [Ousmane Dembele] was undoubtedly a controversial player, but he won the Champions League with the team, and it would be foolish for someone outside of that league to win this award.”
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Tomaszewski is not a Flick fan
In his interview with , Tomaszewski also took aim at Barcelona boss Hansi Flick and claimed the German coach was not doing a good job. He said: “Barcelona has a squad to win the Champions League. I hope they don't extend Flick's contract, because he's not doing a good job. He can't continue. With so much football quality, he should have won everything in Europe. But they lost to Inter, who were then humiliated by PSG in the final.”
It might be difficult to find many who agree with the former Polish shot stopper about Flick, with Barcelona playing some of the most exciting football in Europe and scooping up multiple titles last season. The Blaugrana cantered to the La Liga crown last season, led by a crop of young talent and spearheaded by the veteran Lewandowski.
This season, the Polish forward has formed part of a rotating front three with the likes of Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford also given chances down the middle of the attack. The strength in depth of Barcelona’s attack has allowed for this rich rotation, but this has not hampered Lewandowski’s output. There is little to suggest that the Pole is an unpopular player within the squad and that he would be keen to move to Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona to take top spot on Sunday?
Lewandowski could find himself on top of La Liga by the end of the weekend. The Blaugrana could take advantage of Real Madrid’s thrashing by Atletico Madrid and leapfrog their great rivals into top spot. After winning each of their opening games to the league season, Los Blancos were humiliated 5-2 to hand Xabi Alonso his first domestic defeat in charge of the Spanish giants. With victory on Sunday over Real Sociedad, Barcelona can move up to 19 points and one point clear of Madrid in second.
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Lewandowski's future remains open
Lewandowski’s contract at Barcelona comes to an end next summer, but there is an option for the club to extend it by another year. Should the striker choose to depart, he will no doubt have a long list of suitors lining up contract offers in an attempt to persuade him to join their club. Saudi clubs will be amongst those options, but even at 37-years-old Lewandowski looks as if he could keep playing at the top of European football for years to come.