Germany made sure to reward the quick-thinking ball boy who played a key role in the comical goal that Jamal Musiala scored against Italy.
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Germany raced into three-goal leadBayern stars combined for bizarre effortSigned ball for youngster that aided causeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Die Mannschaft were in UEFA Nations League action against the Azzurri at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. They surged into a 3-0 lead during that contest, with Bayern Munich playmaker Musiala grabbing their second goal of the evening.
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Musiala could not believe his luck when presented with the simplest of tasks in front of an unguarded net. He was able to fire home after club colleague Joshua Kimmich picked him out with a clever set-piece routine. The Italian defence, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma straying a long way off his line, were busy talking among themselves when Kimmich drilled the ball into the box and Musiala wheeled away in celebration. The strike was made possible by the reactions of the youngster who was tasked with returning balls to play.
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The boy in question was treated to a signed ball from Kimmich having teed him up for the corner that left Italy looking sheepish and the home support delighted. He also posed for pictures with the Bayern star, who has extended his contract at the Allianz Arena through to 2029.
Lees, Borthwick resist but visitors take command in fourth-innings chase
ESPNcricinfo staff14-May-2022 Glamorgan 365 (Root 88, Neser 62, Carlson 53, Northeast 51, Potts 4-61, Raine 4-61) and 65 for 3 need another 126 runs to beat Durham 311 and 244 (Borthwick 90, Lees 61, Neser 4-57)Glamorgan require 126 runs to defeat Durham in their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two contest after Marnus Labuschagne inspired the visitors to bowl out the home side for 244 in their second innings at the Riverside.Scott Borthwick and Alex Lees appeared to have put the hosts on course for a solid total with a stand of 138. However, Labuschagne was the unlikely hero with the ball to remove Lees, Borthwick and Ben Stokes before Michael Neser wrapped up the tail, ending with figures of four for 57 to hand Glamorgan control of the game.The Welsh outfit lost two early wickets to Matthew Potts in pursuit of their target of 191. Labuschagne calmed the nerves until the penultimate ball of the day when he fell for 31, leaving the game in the balance.Glamorgan had the chance to put the pressure on the hosts, who began day three trailing the visitors by 15 runs. Michael Hogan quickly made the breakthrough to dismiss nightwatchman Potts for three.The pressure was on Borthwick and Lees, but the two players provided a solid foundation to see off the threat of the first hour. Borthwick looked in particularly good touch as he found the boundary with regularity. Although he did give one brief chance on 44 to Kiran Carlson at backward square leg, the left-hander made his way to a composed half-century for the third time of the season.Whereas Borthwick made batting appear relatively simple, Lees was scratchy at the other end. He survived an lbw shout on 41 and then was put down by Neser at slip on 43 off Andrew Salter’s off-spin. The England opener managed to progress beyond fifty, even though was almost run out by Carlson. Lees’ fortune finally ran out when he played across the line to a half-tracker from Labuschagne and was given out lbw for 61, ending a stand of 138 with Borthwick for the fourth wicket.Borthwick had played extremely well to reach 90 and was on the verge of his first ton of the campaign. However, he will have sleepless nights after being bowled from a straight full-toss from LabuschagneThe loss of the two set batters caused a collapse in the Durham ranks as David Bedingham fell cheaply for the second time in the game, while Ned Eckersley lobbed a loose drive straight to Hogan at mid-off.The pressure was on Stokes to hold the innings together, but after being put down on 13 by Neser, who almost pulled off a fine diving catch, the England captain presented a third wicket to Labuschagne. Stokes lost his balance aiming for a booming drive and the quick hands of Chris Cooke removed the bails.Neser wrapped up the tail by prising out Ben Raine and Chris Rushworth to finish with four wickets for the second time of the match, ending with figures of eight for 124. It was a brilliant effort from the Aussie in light of injuries to Timm van der Gugten and David Lloyd, leaving his side requiring only 191 runs to win the contest.Potts made two early breakthroughs removing replacement opener Andy Gorvin and Salter to reduce the visitors to 15 for two, becoming the first bowler to pass 30 wickets in the County Championship in the process. A Labuschagne mistake from the penultimate ball changed the context of the game as Raine dismissed the Aussie for the second time to give Durham a glimmer of hope.
A very highly-rated forward is now keen on joining Chelsea, with the Blues also reaching out to his representatives for potential transfer talks ahead of January.
Chelsea in the market for new striker despite Nicolas Jackson form
Enzo Maresca’s side are currently the Premier League’s top scorers and have been absolutely imperious going forward since the very start of 2024/2025, but that hasn’t stopped them from looking at potential new striker options.
Chelsea frustrated by £130,000-per-week player with January sale possible
The west Londoners are apparently running out of patience behind-the-scenes.
ByEmilio Galantini Dec 17, 2024
Nicolas Jackson’s strike against Brentford took the Senegal international’s tally to nine goals from 16 appearances in all competitions so far this season, as the former Villarreal star continues his impressive form under Maresca as a player capable of leading their line.
Christopher Nkunku has supplied plenty of goals off the bench as well, yet Chelsea chiefs reportedly remain on the lookout for another prolific scorer as we fast approach 2025.
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Reliable journalists like Simon Phillips have previously claimed that BlueCo are targeting the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface as potential options, but it is likely all of these forwards would cost Chelsea a marquee fee.
Another number nine who may be more obtainable, and one who’s shining in the Premier League right now, is Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.
The former Man City starlet has really impressed for a club competing at the bottom end of the table – scoring six goals in all competitions and putting in some Man of the Match displays – which has attracted attention from Stamford Bridge.
It is reliably believed that Chelsea have made contact with Ipswich over signing Delap already, holding talks with both the club and his agents (Simon Phillips), but the Tractor Boys are understandably reluctant to part company with such a key player mid-season.
However, whether it be mid-season or next summer, any interested side – apart from City who possess a £20 million buy-back clause – would have to pay around £42 million to obtain his signature.
This price tag appears doable on the service for Chelsea, and they’ve now been assisted by Delap’s reported stance over making a move to west London.
Liam Delap keen on joining Chelsea after talks with agents
According to TEAMtalk, Delap is interested in the prospect of joining Chelsea, even if the player is focused on doing a good job at Portman Road and the task at hand to avoid relegation.
The 21-year-old’s representatives have also held talks with Chelsea, as has been reported by other media sources, so it appears they’re seriously laying groundwork over a potential deal for Delap, as multiple media outlets continue to report contact and discussions.
Homegrown, young and becoming more and more proven in the top flight, it is clear to see why Chelsea are keen, and Maresca already knows the player well from their time together at Eastlands.
“He has a special quality. He is a different type of striker. The goal is offside, but he is there. I am happy for him,” said Pep Guardiola on Delap three years ago.
“He is 18-years-old. One of the precious values you have to be in that age is to be patient. If you fight in every training session, it will pay off in your career and you will get what you deserve.”
Danny Welbeck has revealed that legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson phoned him after his extra-time FA Cup winner for Brighton.
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Welbeck scores extra-time FA Cup winnerGets a call from his ex-Man Utd boss FergusonBrighton striker "still in contact" with ScotFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Welbeck sent Brighton into the FA Cup quarter-finals with an extra-time winner at Newcastle United earlier this month and not long after, he received a congratulatory call from his former United manager. The 34-year-old revealed there was "no caller ID" when his phone rang and that he is still in touch with the Scot, despite him retiring from management in 2013.
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He told BBC Sport: "After the Newcastle goal, I think he [Ferguson] was away in South Africa and he rang me and he was talking about the goal and the performance. It's 'No caller ID' that always rings and I was just like, 'Hello'. Sometimes I don't even answer as I don't know who it's going to be but it was him and he was just buzzing. To have that connection… he's a manager who was always looking out for his players, always wants the best for him and still to this day we're still in contact."
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Welbeck came through United's academy and played under Ferguson for several years before joining Arsenal in 2014. The veteran is still showing he can do a job in the Premier League and it is fair to say Ferguson has played a big role in shaping the player that we see today.
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Welbeck may hope for another call from Ferguson if Brighton beat Nottingham Forest in the last eight of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Unbeaten 51 and two key wickets put London rivals to the sword at Kia Oval
ECB Reporters Network17-Jun-2022Surrey 158 for 3 (Narine 51*, Jacks 43) beat Middlesex 155 for 8 (Narine 2-27, Jordan 2-27) by seven wicketsSunil Narine showcased his world-class all-round short-form skills as a 30,000 full house at the Kia Oval saw Surrey overwhelm Middlesex by seven wickets to maintain their unbeaten record at the top of the Vitality Blast’s South Group.West Indies star Narine included four sixes in his 29-ball 51 not out as Surrey made it seven wins from eight Blast matches, plus a no-result against Glamorgan. For Middlesex it was an unwanted sixth successive defeat.Ollie Pope finished unbeaten on 37 as Surrey cruised to 158 for 3 in 15.1 overs in reply to Middlesex’s 155 for 8, in which Luke Hollman’s modest 31 was the top score and both Narine and Surrey captain Chris Jordan took 2 for 27 from their four-over allocations.Will Jacks’s explosive 43 from 20 balls gave Surrey the perfect start to their chase, the gifted 23-year-old driving and upper-cutting two remarkable sixes over cover off suffering paceman Tom Helm in a fourth over costing 18 runs.Jacks then flicked another effortless six behind square leg as 17 more came from the next over, Jason Behrendorff’s third, a tally that included a beautiful extra cover four from Pope.It was fast left-armer Behrendorff who had dismissed Jamie Smith for 15, caught at deep-midwicket after taking three fours in the previous over from off spinner Chris Green.Jacks mishit Hollman’s leg spin to long off in the seventh over and Laurie Evans was also caught there for 5 as he tried to hit Thilan Walallawita’s left-arm for six.But that only brought in Narine, who warmed to his task by hitting Hollman straight for six before taking two sixes from the next over, bowled by Helm. Narine then ended the game by thumping Behrendorff for another six, taking his unbroken fourth wicket stand with Pope to 73 off 7.3 overs.It did not help Middlesex’s cause, in such a one-sided London derby, that their captain Stephen Eskinazi was sent back and run out for 25 off 19 balls after looking in good touch.Middlesex were 51 for 2 after the six-over powerplay, 84 for 3 at halfway and 121 for 5 after 15 overs. At no stage did they threaten to overpower Surrey’s seven-strong bowling attack, and lost wickets at regular intervals.Max Holden’s first attempt at a big shot, in the second over, merely ended up as a horribly skewed mishit off Jacks’ offspin to backward point and the left-handed opener departed for 3.Joe Cracknell did loft his second ball high over mid-off for six, off Jacks, and also thumped Dan Worrall’s first ball, at the start of the fourth over, over long off for another maximum.But Cracknell, having edged a rapid Worrall bouncer fortuitously over the keeper for four, was then deceived by a slower ball later in the Australian paceman’s opening over and held at deep mid wicket for 19.Eskinazi, guiding Jacks just to the left of Pope at backward point from the last ball of the eighth over, was furious with his partner John Simpson when he refused a sharp single and was run out by Pope’s throw to keeper Smith.Jack Davies began with two fours in mystery spinner Narine’s first over, with reverse and orthodox sweeps, but lost Simpson for 25 in the 11th when the Middlesex keeper skied Jordan to extra cover after battling through 22 balls in a vain effort to give the innings some momentum.Davies (17) then reverse-slapped Narine weakly to short third man and Green (14) hit a full Atkinson delivery to mid off. Martin Andersson, down the pitch and swishing desperately at Narine, was stumped for 6 and Hollman’s 28-ball innings ended from the last ball when he clubbed Jordan to long-on.
The January transfer window officially opens for business on Wednesday and it could be a busy month of business for the underperforming Glasgow Rangers.
Philippe Clement’s side have won one of their last five matches in all competitions, losing the League Cup final to Celtic at Hampden Park in that time, and recently lost 2-1 to St Mirren.
The Light Blues are now 14 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table and look set to miss out on the title for a fourth straight season.
Clement and Nils Koppen could, now, look to make some changes to the underperforming squad in January in an attempt to enjoy an improved second half of the campaign, and Cyriel Dessers moving on from Ibrox is one objective that they should have on their to-do-list.
Why Cyriel Dessers should be sold
Earlier this month, it was reported that Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne have an interest in signing the Nigeria international from the Gers in the winter window.
Rangers must take advantage of that and ruthlessly cash in on the centre-forward, who has not proven to be a reliable option for Clement at the top end of the pitch this season.
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As you can see in the table above, Dessers has been incredibly wasteful in front of goal throughout the campaign, with 15 ‘big chances’ missed across the Premiership and the Europa League.
The 30-year-old dud, who has also been a lightweight in duels, should now be moved on when the January transfer window opens up, to free space in the squad for a new forward to come in.
The player who should replace Cyriel Dessers
Clement, however, may not need to dip into the market to find a replacement for Dessers because he could save the club a fortune by, simply, unleashing B team starlet Zak Lovelace.
The 18-year-old whiz, who finally returned to action in September after 320 days out with a hamstring injury, recently showcased his quality for the youth side by scoring the winner in the Glasgow Cup against Celtic, as shown below.
Lovelace has been a terrific player for the academy since his initial move from Millwall in the summer of 2022 at the age of 16, at which point he was described as an “exciting” young talent by former sporting director Ross Wilson.
The teenage dynamo enjoyed a sensational debut campaign with the youth sides, scoring 18 goals and providing ten assists in 35 appearances across all competitions.
Rangers forward Zak Lovelace.
His form was impressive enough to earn him two first-team appearances at the age of 17 in the second half of that term, before playing twice in the Premiership at the start of the 2023/24 campaign before his long-term hamstring injury.
Lovelace’s goal against Celtic recently shows that he is now back on track and could be ready to step back into the first-team set-up to offer Clement another option at the top end of the pitch.
The 18-year-old starlet’s form for the academy suggests that there is a forward there with the potential to provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals, which could make him an exciting replacement for Dessers – saving the club from splashing out millions on a replacement in the process.
5 players who could leave Rangers this January
The January window could see a number of Gers players near the exit door.
Roberto De Zerbi has explained the reason behind Mason Greenwood's recent slump in form as he vowed to turn the forward into a Marseille great.
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Greenwood criticised in recent weeksDe Zerbi explained reasons for his 'difficult time'Englishman backed to become club legendFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Greenwood excelled right from the off after he joined the French side from Manchester United last summer. His goal in the 3-2 win against Toulouse on Sunday took his Ligue 1 goal tally to 16 in just 28 appearances, but the 23-year-old has faced criticism in recent weeks and there were reports of tension between him and De Zerbi.
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De Zerbi, though, has reiterated his faith in Greenwood as he outlined his plan to turn him onto a true star for Marseille, saying his recent dip in form is understandable given the recent birth of his second child.
WHAT DE ZERBI SAID
"Greenwood is a natural talent. All the credit goes to his mother and father. And I'm here to help him become more complete," the Italian coach told reporters. "When he needs a hug, a word of support, I gladly give it. And when I need to push him to give more, I have to do that too because that's my job.
"I would especially like to help him be remembered, in this stadium and by these supporters, as one of the greatest players to have played here at the Velodrome. There have been so many great players here, but I think Greenwood has the qualities to be remembered that way. And I'm trying to help him progress.
"He's had a bit of a difficult time lately because he had a daughter who was born and I also think he's not used to playing such an intense season and being one of the main players. I think he paid for it physically. That is to say, he wasn't pushing and wasn't 100 per cent like I wanted in training, in terms of what I expect from a player like him. If a player doesn't push in training and can't do it in matches either, it's right he stays on the bench."
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?
After helping Marseille end their three-game losing run, Greenwood will hope to enhance his goal record further when they face Monaco this weekend.
Liverpool are in a fantastic position, and though Arne Slot’s side will be wary of the title-chasing competition in the Premier League, the six-point lead (with a game in hand) makes it Anfield’s to lose.
The 2024/25 campaign has been contested against the backdrop of contractual uncertainties: Virgil van Dijk has been coy; Mohamed Salah has sought to nudge reporters into portraying his narrative in his way; the other, more concerning, third of the problem is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been largely silent as Real Madrid draw closer to making their move.
Trent Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool
Elsewhere, FSG do need to deal with the other exit-related issues at Anfield, with a certain club-record signing seemingly reaching the end of the road.
Liverpool centre-forward conundrum
Darwin Nunez is two-and-a-half years into his Liverpool career but still struggling to convince Merseyside of his ability to lead Slot’s frontline.
Were it not for the prolific success of his peers, the Uruguay international’s plight would have received far heavier criticism, and it hasn’t exactly been a low-profile stint for him anyway.
It’s a conundrum, to be sure. In fact, Liverpool bosses appear to be at the end of their tether, with Football Insider already reporting this month that offers around £50m-£60m would be accepted for his sale.
Then you have Diogo Jota. The Portugal forward is regarded as one of Liverpool’s deadliest finishers, ranking among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored (0.67) per 90, as per FBref.
But Jota’s fitness record is hardly something for rivals to envy. He’s not the long-term centre-forward solution across 40 or 50 matches, season in, season out.
If Liverpool are going to increase their goal threat from number nine and lessen the workload that Mohamed Salah has shouldered for so many years, sporting director Richard Hughes is going to need to get it right in the transfer market.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah
Nunez has missed 50 big chances in the Premier League since arriving in July 2022, as per Sofascore, only scoring 22 goals in that timeframe. The Uruguayan striker is 25 now and not showing the growth that all of a Liverpool persuasion would have expected.
It’s no surprise that FSG are perusing the market for a replacement.
Liverpool leading race for Nunez replacement
Anfield Watch have revealed that Stefanos Tzimas is on Liverpool’s radar and that the Reds are very ‘eager to sign’ the PAOK forward, who is thriving on loan for FC Nurnberg in the 2. Bundesliga.
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PAOK have a principle agreement in place for Nurnberg to sign the 19-year-old permanently for £15m in the summer, but Liverpool have been informed that they would secure the teenager’s signature for a £25m fee. Bayern Munich are also interested but the Reds are firmly ahead.
Further reports by Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg on Monday indicate that Liverpool ‘have started talks’ with the player’s club via a phone call a few days ago.
Darwin Nunez for Liverpool
Building on the Nunez rumours, it’s also been claimed that Saudi Pro League giants Al Hilal are interested in taking the Uruguayan off Slot’s hands, thus freeing up room for a talent such as Tzimas to join the cause.
What Stefanos Tzimas would bring to Liverpool
Salah has been Liverpool’s anchor point up front since joining Jurgen Klopp’s cause way back in 2017, and though he may extend his contract, the 32-year-old won’t be around forever.
What Slot needs is an up-and-coming goalscorer who will go from strength to strength with each passing year. Tzimas is that man, having already been hailed as a “monster in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
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His stay in the German second division looks to be paying dividends in relation to his development, with the 19-year-old having scored eight goals across 14 appearances for the 11-placed side this term, starting only ten of those fixtures and missing 11 big chances, as per Sofascore, which isn’t all that bad when noting Nunez’s aforementioned profligacy.
Given that Liverpool would be signing him after sharpening his tools in Germany, Tzimas could be Slot’s very own version of Roberto Firmino.
Tzimas ranks among the top 5% of forwards across divisions ranked below Europe’s top five leagues for goals scored, the top 1% for progressive carries and successful take-ons and the top 18% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.
There’s no question that he’s more than just a goalscorer, and indeed, this could be exactly what Liverpool need to emulate their triumphant Firmino signing.
Bobby Dazzler wasn’t really a goalscorer, not with Salah and Sadio Mane flanking him. The Brazil star operated in a unique and false-nineish realm that allowed him to pull strings with artful flicks and intelligent passes. He was also a dogged defender, part of the game that Tzimas seemingly enjoys too.
Defensive striker and all that, but Firmino posted 186 goal contributions across 362 appearances for the Reds, winning everything on offer (barring that pesky Europa League trophy) and going down as a modern club legend.
It sometimes feels like Nunez has some of the elements needed to succeed as a number nine, tenacious and talented and willing to get stuck in defensively, but he’s not got the temperament in front of goal. Anfield icon Robbie Fowler even said that he’s “not a Liverpool player” before Slot’s side took on Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup. Nunez missed a great chance in that one.
With the likes of Jota and Luis Diaz starring for Liverpool, a rising prospect such as Tzimas could certainly be signed and nurtured to the fore over the coming years. Perhaps he can become the greatest central forward since Firmino, eclipsing Nunez.
Best transfer since Van Dijk: Liverpool plot huge bid for "magnificent" ace
Arne Slot will continue to target Liverpool reinforcements this January.
“Hopefully with no more bubbles, we can be at home more, have a bit more off time and then get straight into cricket”
Firdose Moonda21-Jul-2022While England’s schedule continues to overwhelm them, South Africa are itching to play a little , at least in the longest format, and are concerned with getting the balance between travel and playing days right.Asked how he views the current calendar, Anrich Nortje explained that he anticipates tours to become shorter as travel normalises post-pandemic, leaving sufficient time for being at home and playing.Related
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“I don’t have the answers, but I would love for us to play more Test cricket,” Nortje said. “We are very busy. We are on the road most of the time but recently, we’ve been away from home for a long time but the cricket has been limited. Hopefully, with no more bubbles, we can be at home a bit more, have a bit more off time and then get straight into cricket. We don’t need to prep as much as in the past, so that’s maybe something we can work around.”During the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, South Africa travelled to Pakistan, the Caribbean, Ireland, Sri Lanka, the UAE, and New Zealand and hosted England (including a partially abandoned white-ball tour), Sri Lanka, the Netherlands (also abandoned), India, and Bangladesh. Their bubbles were the hardest in New Zealand, where they had to undertake a mandatory quarantine and could not leave their rooms, and eased at home, where they had access to large resorts, with some leisure facilities. Since travel opened up earlier this year, they have travelled to India and now England.Nortje is expected to continue playing in all formats for South Africa having regained full fitness since the IPL. He was part of the T20 World Cup playing group last year but then spent six months on the sidelines nursing a back and hip injury, before traveling again to this year’s IPL.”It’s extremes. You get injured, you are at home for a long time. You get back into cricket and you’re on the road for a long time,” he said.”Hopefully, the body can stay in good nick. Playing all formats is tough. I have been playing a lot of T20 cricket the last while and now back into ODIs. It’s really nice to get some rhythm, to get used to some bigger loads and hopefully, build it up for the Tests. I am really excited about what’s coming up. We’ve got a busy schedule. I don’t think we will be at home for a long time, but I am really excited about what’s coming up.”
“Hopefully, with no more bubbles, we can be at home a bit more, have a bit more off time and then get straight into cricket.”Anrich Nortje
What South Africa have ahead of them immediately is an opportunity to win their first bilateral ODI series in England since 1998 with victory in the second match at Manchester. They beat England by 62 runs in the first ODI, with Nortje starring with four wickets. Although the series does not count for World Cup Super League points, South Africa are taking value from what it can teach them about consistency in the format that has been their weakest since Mark Boucher took over in December 2019 and about closing out series when they are in the lead.They went 2-0 up in their recent T20I rubber in India, only to find themselves locked at 2-2 ahead of a washed-out decider.”We mentioned in India that the third game was going to be a final for us, and then the fourth game was a final and we didn’t pull through. We have to be on it,” Nortje said. “Every time we get close we want to try and pull through. We want to go for the kill. We don’t want to drag it out longer.”For that reason, South Africa are likely to keep the same XI (apart from Andile Phehlukwayo, who is concussed) that beat England in the opener – including both Nortje and Lungi Ngidi – who are also expected to play in the upcoming T20Is and Tests on a surface that should offer the quicks more. Nortje is looking forward to some bounce from the Old Trafford surface, after the benign track at Durham. “From what I understand, it might play a little better than the previous venue,” he said.But even if it does have more of the quicks, not all of the big-name players on both sides will be playing in Manchester as South Africa rested Kagiso Rabada for the series and England’s Mark Wood and Jofra Archer are both out injured.”It’s sad to see they are not here and it’s always nice to see them competing against us. It’s always nice to have the fastest guys, at least one or two in a team,” Nortje said. “Mark Wood and Jofra have played major roles in the England side, so I’m hoping they can have a speedy recovery and get back and produce what they have been in the past.”
Arsenal are working hard to sign a marquee forward before January deadline day, with the Gunners prepared to make a significant push imminently.
Arsenal targeting new attacker after Jesus and Saka blows
It is no secret that Mikel Arteta is in the market for a new star attacker to bolster his options in the final third.
Arsenal hold January talks with £51m striker as elite club open to selling
They need an alternative to Kai Havertz.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Jan 21, 2025
Having lost Bukayo Saka to a hamstring problem, with the England star not expected back until March, Arteta is also minus the winger’s vital contribution of goals and assists. Meanwhile, striker Gabriel Jesus, who was in a rich vein of form with six goals in his last seven games, is now set to miss the rest of 2024/2025 after rupturing his ACL.
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This is now an emergency-level situation for the Premier League title hopefuls, as long-term absences for Saka and Jesus handicap Arsenal by taking away a serious amount of threat in the forward areas.
Arteta has already confirmed that Arsenal want another forward to come in before February 3, and the club are making attempts for that to happen.
Reports in Italy this week claimed that Arsenal have reached out to Dusan Vlahovic’s entourage, as the striker could leave Juventus this month for the right offer. The likes of Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon) and Igor Jesus (Botafogo) have been linked recently as well, alongside Wolves star Matheus Cunha.
Matheus Cunha
The Brazilian, who is capable of playing in a wide variety of roles – including as a centre-forward, out-wide, second striker and even through the middle in a central attacking-midfield role – is currently Wolves’ star player.
Vitor Pereira’s side are keen to tie him down with a new contract to fend off elite suitors like Arsenal, and it is believed they could demand as much as £80 million to let him leave in the coming weeks.
“Matheus Cunha is yet to sign his new Wolves contract despite verbally agreeing new financial terms,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on X.
“Parties still discussing a release clause, and potentially two different numbers based on Wolves staying up and/or going down. Cunha has been offered an important pay rise, and even with a new long-term deal, Wolves would be understanding of Cunha’s desire to leave for the right opportunity in future windows.
“Arsenal are currently in contact with Cunha’s camp, but talks only informal at this stage. Wolves still don’t wish to sell in January and that position will only change with a crazy offer, likely in excess of £80m.”
Arsenal working hard to sign Matheus Cunha and prepared to push soon
Going by the previous update from Jacobs, there is still hope for Arsenal to pip the 25-year-old from Molineux.
According to a Spanish media source, sharing further news on this story, it is believed that Arsenal are working hard to sign Cunha behind-the-scenes, and they’re prepared to make a significant push for him in the next few days.
Wolves striker Matheus Cunha
Arteta’s side are said to be convinced that the South American, who’s scored 10 goals and assisted four others in all competitions for Wolves this season, could be a decisive potential signing in their quest to win a first Premier League title in over two decades.
It’s added they could go “all out” for Cunha’s signature, although just how much they’re willing to pay for him isn’t made clear.