With Vitor Pereira aiming to add the final touches to his side before the transfer window slams shut, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly leading the race to sign a Barcelona gem this month.

Their opening day defeat at the hands of Manchester City highlighted a number of problem areas for Wolves. Whilst there were little expectations against Pep Guardiola’s serial winners who have spent big once again this summer, Pereira’s squad looked alarmingly thin throughout.

Since that defeat, the Midlands club have – to their credit – welcomed Jackson Tchatchoua from Hellas Verona in an attempt to replace Nelson Semedo and hand their backline a much-needed boost. But there’s undoubtedly still work to be done as deadline day approaches.

The defender is keen to get going too, telling Wolves’ official website: “I feel good. I feel happy to be here and I’m excited. I spoke a little bit with the coach, but I’ll speak more. The Premier League is one of my dreams and it’s one step that I want to do in my life, and also the history of the club, the stadium, the fans, this convinced me.”

With a trip to face Bournemouth awaiting this weekend, the new arrival could have the chance to make his Wolves debut just days after putting pen to paper in a game that must see marked improvement from Pereira’s side.

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Meanwhile, now that Tchatchoua has officially arrived, Wolves have reportedly turned their attention towards the likes of Girona’s Ladislav Krejci and Christantus Uche. Rumours have even gone as far as to suggest that they’ve made an offer worth £26m to sign Krejci, whilst also setting their sights on another La Liga talent.

Wolves now in pole position to sign Casado

According to Sport Italia journalist Gianluigi Longari, as relayed by Sport Witness, Wolves are now in pole position to sign Marc Casado and are willing to go all out to sign the Barcelona midfielder.

The Spanish giants reportedly value the 21-year-old at just €30m (£26m), sparking a race between Wolves, West Ham United and Bournemouth to secure his signature this month.

In a hectic race which now also includes Marseille, Wolves are reportedly pushing hardest to welcome the young Spaniard in what would hand Pereira an instant upgrade in possession compared to his current options at Molineux.

League stats 24/25

Andre

Casado

Minutes

2,472

1,611

Progressive Passes P90

3.96

5.98

Tackles Won P90

2

1.4

Ball Recoveries P90

7.05

5.03

Although Andre is effective out of possession, Casado would hand Wolves far more control in the middle of the park to almost replicate the job that Ruben Neves did for so many years in the Midlands.

Dubbed a “wonderful talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Casado would be an excellent addition to Pereira’s side. Whether Wolves manage to fend off the competition from both Marseille and their Premier League rivals to sign the Barcelona gem remains to be seen, however.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot is prepared to work with FSG and bring in more signings this summer, despite the remarkable stream of arrivals over the past few months.

When Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a British-record £116m deal, they confirmed to their rivals that they mean to defend their Premier League title and remain at the top of the pile over the coming era.

But with Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike signed too, for an initial £69m fee, there’s a growing sense that Slot is shaping a super-team together.

24/25 – Frankfurt

33

15

8

23/24 – Frankfurt*

14

4

2

23/24 – PSG

1

0

0

22/23 – PSG

25

3

4

21/22 – Reims

24

10

4

20/21 – Vejle*

11

3

2

20/21 – Reims

2

0

0

Ekitike, 23, has got the potential to become “one of the best strikers out there”, according to analyst Ben Mattinson, but Ekitike might find himself dealt a heavy load in the early days at Anfield, given that two Reds stars are moving away.

And further change may be afoot, with the sale of Luis Diaz as well as Darwin Nunez’s anticipated departure emphasising FSG’s desire to spark further change before the window slams shut.

Why Nunez and Diaz are leaving Liverpool

Diaz has already left Liverpool, having signed for Bayern Munich in a £65.5m package earlier this week. It’s a poignant farewell for one of the most important players at the club over the past several years, but one which carries a sense of practicality.

Aged 28, Diaz had entered the next-to-last year in his Liverpool contract, and despite efforts from both parties to extend his deal, the gulf was too far to bridge.

And so he departs, leaving the question marks that linger over whether Liverpool will sign a successor, and if that successor will be a central frontman or an electric-paced, out-and-out winger.

Well, with Darwin Nunez appearing to be edging closer to a transfer to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, it seems like Slot may be welcoming that former option.

In fairness, you need only look at the happenings in the English transfer market to note that sporting director Richard Hughes is indeed doing all within his power to sign a new centre-forward at Liverpool.

Liverpool pushing to sign new striker

Sources from every far-flung corner of the footballing world have revealed details of different shapes and sizes about Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak over the past several days.

However, according to The Athletic’s trusty transfer-reporter-in-chief, David Ornstein, Liverpool remain interested in the Sweden striker after seeing a formal bid worth £110m rejected on Friday. For his part, Isak, 25, continues to push for a move to Merseyside.

However, it all depends on the Magpies’ success in signing a replacement, currently locked in negotiations with RB Leipzig for the 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko. Manchester United, crucially, want him too.

Liverpool may need to fork out closer to an unprecedented £150m if they are to sign one of the Premier League’s deadliest goalscorers.

Why Liverpool are desperate for Alexander Isak

Isak might not have the same indomitability in front of goal as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (no active footballer does), but he’s still “the best all-round centre-forward” in the Premier League, according to pundit Ally McCoist.

The £120k-per-week star’s 27-goal return last season shows that he knows where the back of the net is too, and he would surely rise to the next level when joining a Liverpool side so replete with offensive quality.

Much has been made over whether signing Isak is even feasible, given that Ekitike joined Slot’s squad in July. However, it’s not as if a duel striking partnership hasn’t proved effective at Anfield in the past.

Just look back over a decade ago, when Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge combined to an emphatic effect across the 2013/14 Premier League season.

Under Brendan Rodgers’ wing, ‘SAS’, as the duo were affectionately dubbed, wreaked utter havoc together as Liverpool capered their way through the campaign. For a long time, the Reds appeared invincible, but they fumbled the bag in the closing stages of the term and ultimately ceded the title to Manchester City.

Still, Suarez and Sturridge played their part, all right. The Uruguayan, one of the most notorious, decorated and destructive footballers in history, obliterated all who lay in his path, scoring 31 goals and supplying 13 assists across 33 top-flight fixtures,

Liverpool had never seen the like (that is, until several years later, when Mohamed Salah came along).

Described by the legendary Steven Gerrard as being the best striker he had ever played with as a professional (sorry, El Nino), the South American was the cream of the crop, but Sturridge played his part too, notching 29 goal contributions from as many games in the league that year.

He perfectly complemented Suarez, a deadly finisher but a dynamic, selfless and mobile dance partner who knew how his strengths merged against his teammates’.

Ekitike could play that role alongside Isak. As per FBref, the Frenchman ranked last season among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

While the two athletic number nines are similar in that they are intelligent and energetic both on the ball and without it, Isak is clearly the superior finisher, praised by Fabrizio Romano for being a “machine” in front of goal, whereas Ekitike indeed has a flair for the creative side of the game.

If Slot manages to find a way for them to dance to the other’s tune, Liverpool could be in for a treat over the coming years, proving to the world that two focal frontmen can work together in a side challenging for all the biggest prizes on offer.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Um evento inédito envolvendo o Vila Nova-GO e algumas equipes, projetos sociais e uma academy ocorreu na última semana no Rio de Janeiro. A agremiação goiana enviou à capital fluminense um analista/gerente da base para avaliar jovens atletas. O empresário João Proetti, idealizador da vinda do clube do Centro-Oeste, falou sobre o objetivo do evento.

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– Nossa relação com o Vila Nova é excelente e optamos por convidá-lo para esta seleção, pois trata-se de um clube tradicional e que tem revelado bons valores nos últimos anos. Confiamos inteiramente na competência e seriedade que possuem e acreditamos que iremos colher bons frutos com essa parceria – afirmou.

Mais de 500 meninos da região metropolitana, Baixada Fluminense e Campos participaram da seleção durante cinco dias e 21 jovens foram escolhidos. O gerente Rodrigo Carvalho comentou o que o Vila Nova visa no projeto.

– O João abriu as portas do Rio para que pudéssemos observar, mapear e monitorar atletas. O que buscamos são as suas valências, de acordo com cada posição. Esperamos voltar outras vezes – definiu.

Aston Villa have now been approached over the signing of a “dominant” defender, who they have tracked for quite some time, according to a report.

Villa keen on new defender after signing Guessand

After selling Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, Villa were a little light on options in the striker department, but Unai Emery now has both Ollie Watkins and Evann Guessand to choose from at centre-forward, with the ex-OGC Nice man arriving for £30m.

Consequently, Emery now want to turn his attentions to strengthening at the opposite end of the pitch, especially considering Pau Torres is attracting interest from elsewhere, with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr recently being named as potential suitors.

It could be wise to cash-in on Torres this summer, given that the Villans are well-known to be treading a fine line when it comes to PSR, and Saudi teams are arguably more willing to pay over the odds, with Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez recently joining Al-Hilal for up to £56.6m.

Aston Villa make approach to sign £22m attacker, may submit bid within days

The Villans have now made contact over a deal for an “incredible” player.

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Dominic Lund

Aug 10, 2025

Should Aston Villa sell the 28-year-old, it may be a smart move to bring in a younger centre-back, with greater re-sell value, and they have now been approached over the potential signing of Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Villa are being kept informed about Ordonez, alongside a whole host of their Premier League rivals, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur also named as potential suitors.

Emery’s side have been in contact over the highly-rated young defender for the past 12 months, but he is now closing in on a move to Marseille, which means they will need to move swiftly to hijack a deal, and it may take a bid of around €33m (£28m).

"Dominant" Ordonez could be fantastic signing for Villa

At just 21-years-old, the Brugge centre-back is still in the infancy of his career, but football talent scout Jacek Kulig believes he could go on to achieve great things, having likened the youngster to Real Madrid star Antonio Rüdiger.

Kulig describes the Ecuadorian as a “dominant” defender, which suggests he is strong in duels, but the starlet is also forward-thinking and very comfortable in possession of the ball, which is crucial for a modern-day centre-back.

Despite his age, the Ecuador international already has a plethora of experience at first-team level, making 84 appearances for Club Brugge, including 12 in the Champions League last season, which suggests he may now be ready to test himself in the Premier League.

As such, it would certainly be exciting if Aston Villa were to pursue a late move for Ordonez, but they would have to move swiftly, given that Marseille are closing in on a deal.

The two teams are in transition, but there’s plenty of firepower in both sides for what should be a high-scoring series

Sreshth Shah21-Jan-20251:20

‘Gambhir will be judged on CT and England tour’

Big picture: Teams in transitionGautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum have many things in common. They were both stellar openers, they were both captain and coach of Kolkata Knight Riders at different times, they’re both known for their “aggressive” mindsets when it comes to approaching the game from the dugout, and, now, they both find themselves trying to shepherd teams in transition.India’s has been easier, at least in this format, with three superstars calling time on their careers with T20 World Cup medals around their neck, and others fitting in smoothly over the course of wins against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa. England’s has been trickier, with one of the most exciting white-ball teams in world cricket struggling in ICC tournaments since their T20 World Cup win in 2022.This has meant McCullum enters the India T20I series as England’s white-ball coach for the first time, with ambitions of maximising the team’s unfulfilled potential. And for Gambhir, the aim is to show that the T20I team remains unaffected by the poor Test results that have shaken the establishment.Related

Powerhouse line-ups clash in a series that could test T20's limits

It’s against this backdrop that India and England meet in a five-match series that could test the limits of the shortest format. And as the lines between T20Is and ODIs keep blurring, there will be opportunities for some T20I specialists to stake their claim for future ODI positions – especially after the Champions Trophy concludes.Five potentially delectable T20 batting surfaces await the two sides across the next fortnight, and the first salvo in Kolkata will give a glimpse of what to expect.Form guideIndia WWLWW
England LWWWWArshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami work together at the nets•PTI In the spotlight: Bethell and ShamiVery few youngsters right now have the aura of Jacob Bethell. He made blistering international debuts in all three formats at the back end of 2024. He has had a stint with Melbourne Renegades in the BBL, and has an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru without playing a single game in India. The left-hand batter has developed a reputation of smacking spinners for fun, is a handy left-arm spinner himself, and is considered an electric fielder in the ring and on the boundary line. Could there be a more perfect T20 cricketer in this era? Slotted in at No. 6 for the first T20I against India, Bethell’s stocks have never been higher. England see him as one of their future superstars. Now all he has to do is ace the India challenge.On the other hand, Mohammed Shami, at age 34, is making an international comeback after an ankle surgery and a knee niggle. He hasn’t played international cricket since India’s loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, and despite India trying other fast bowlers in the interim, there’s a feeling that Shami remains India’s second-best seamer behind Jasprit Bumrah. India have gambled by selecting him for next month’s Champions Trophy, and the focus in the T20Is and ODIs against England will be on how his body holds up. It’s also the perfect way for him to come back, at his domestic-cricket home ground.Team news: Archer, Wood combine, but what of Bishnoi?England captain Jos Buttler said he was especially pleased at having every first-choice T20I player available for this series. They have named their XI already, with Phil Salt taking the gloves and Ben Duckett opening alongside him. Buttler himself will be at No. 3, with England also having the searing pace and fit bodies of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood to attack India. England’s deep line-up makes them one of the most dangerous batting outfits at the moment.England: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jos Buttler (capt), 4 Harry Brook, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark WoodIndia have two major decisions to make: how many spinners to play, and how deep their batting should look. Arshdeep Singh, Shami and Hardik Pandya should be be the seamers, while Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel could be the two spin options. That probably leaves India deciding between seam-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar, and an outright wristspinner in Ravi Bishnoi. England are right-hander-heavy, and struggle against fingerspinners, two factors that could decide India’s eventual choice.India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Nitish Kumar Reddy/Washington Sundar/Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.Brendon McCullum and Jos Buttler oversee England’s training session•Getty ImagesPitch and conditions: Dew and runs aplentyKolkata is going to offer a hard deck with true bounce. The boundaries are small, and the ball in January will get wet very quickly. That means Eden Gardens should be a paradise for batting. Suryakumar and Buttler both felt conditions would be the same irrespective of the toss result, so expect a belter with dew around.Stats and trivia: Arshdeep closes in on Chahal Among Full Members, England have the second-worst batting average against fingerspin since the start of 2024: 26.8. Against top sides like Australia, South Africa and India, it drops to 13.88 at a run rate of only 6.74. With 95 wickets in 60 T20Is, Arshdeep is only one wicket behind Yuzvendra Chahal, who leads the pack for India in the format. If Arshdeep gets to the landmark of 100 wickets in this five-match series, he’ll become the quickest fast bowler to get there. Currently, Haris Rauf holds that record, having achieved it in 71 games. Also, since Arshdeep’s T20I debut, no bowler has taken more wickets in the powerplay (40) or in the last five overs (46). India have not lost a bilateral T20I series at home in the last six years. Their last defeat was against Australia in February 2019. In the 16 series since, India have won 14 and drawn two. Since the T20 World Cup 2024, India have scored at 9.2 runs per over in the powerplay, an astonishing 10.3 from overs 7-15 and 10.9 in the last five overs. In this period, no team has had a better run rate between overs 7-15 or a better ball-per-boundary ratio (4.7). Archer has the wood over both Suryakumar and Hardik, with both batters striking at only 116 against him while averaging 14.5 and 19 runs, respectively.Quotes”It’s a really exciting tour coming to India with what I’d say is a full line-up for us. Sometimes there’s so much cricket that certain players have to be rested or managed. But that’s certainly not the case for us at all in in this series.”
“Eden Gardens is a special feeling, because this is where I played when I started playing regularly.”

The South Korea captain has brought attacking quality to LAFC, as well as a willingness to be a face for the league

After the final whistle of LAFC's 4-1 win over Real Salt Lake Wednesday night, Son Heung-Min took time for everything. He did a TV interview, and answered each question gracefully. He smiled for fans, and took in the scenes around him. And then, after the furor had died down, he did a post-game media availability, taking on each query with the kind of effort you might expect out of a much younger, much more naive professional athlete. 

It helped, too, that he was excellent on the pitch. Son dazzled with the first of what you might suspect will be many hat-tricks for LAFC, cutting through a helpless Real Salt Lake side with the kind of razor-sharp grace that both Spurs and South Korea fans took in for years.

It was a strange evening in the scope of modern day Major League Soccer. Superstars aren't supposed to do this anymore. They don't give up spare time or smile for the cameras. They might not even impact the game that much.

For some, coming to America, kicking a ball about a bit, grabbing a paycheck, is something of an extended holiday. Even the best to ever play the game – and some of the best to ever grace the league – have treated things more like a kickabout and drive home than a sporting duty.

Yet here we have Son, who breaks that mold. So much of the conversation around his signing was about how important he would be for the Korean community, or how much he would raise the profile of MLS. That is all true. 

But what is perhaps missed, somehow, in all of this, is the fact that Son is a very good footballer who takes this job very, seriously. And for LAFC – the soccer team and brand – his impact could not be more welcome.

• MLS and the relationship with superstardom

  There are numerous facets of being a soccer superstar. It is impossible, in this landscape, to be just a fantastic player, one who pays no attention to the wider obligations of being an elite athlete. At the same time, it's difficult to be a worldwide brand and still be able to perform on the pitch.

  This is not, it must be admitted, a harsh task, in relative terms. Being famous isn't that difficult – nor should it require the empathy of the average fan. 

  But in MLS, there is a specific expectation placed on the guys who make the most money. This may be a far more stable league than it used to be, but it still leans heavily on stars and marquee signings. Yet at the same time, this country is no longer naive enough to be fooled by poor performances.

  In other words, superstardom is now about elite performance and public relations, from media obligations to helping the marketing and social media arms of a club to enhance the brand. You have to be able to do both. 

  Historically, few have been able to do it. Sure, Landon Donovan, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibhrahmovic and Thierry Henry all played good footy and answered questions after full time. But that was a different league back then. There was still a bit of anonymity. And, in all honesty, fewer people were watching.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Son, who signs autographs

  Last week, Son and the LAFC squad walked out of the team hotel in San Jose, California. Metal barricades were up, and fans in LAFC, Spurs and Korea jerseys stood behind them. Many pleaded for signatures of their shirts. One fan handed him a photo book. Selfie requests ran rampant. And Son took every second to sign every last one. 

  It was a ruthlessly efficient scene, captured on social media. But it was also quite a novel in this era, a superstar taking the time to interact with fans – seven hours from his home stadium. Some would have gotten straight onto the team bus. Others might have taken one or two photos and waved a brisk goodbye. Yet Son took the time.

  And so what? Guy signs autographs. This is what we expect of our heroes, right? They are supposed to do these things.

  The reality, of course, is that many of them don't – especially in American soccer. And Son is certainly, quite comfortably, the second most famous footballer in MLS. No one will ever catch Lionel Messi. The Argentine gets his own stratosphere.

  But Son has nearly 15 million Instagram followers. He has deals with Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Gillette and Samsung, among others. He is almost certainly the most famous Asian footballer on the planet. The symbolism is visceral – so much bigger than everyone else, so unattainable, yet taking any time for anything.

  "He plays the game the right way. He's open and honest with the media. He gives great answers. He's always got a smile on his face," former USMNT midfielder Sacha Kljestan told GOAL. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Very, very good at football

  Then again, we were all told that this would be likely. Son is, well, a good bloke. He is the smiliest man in football, the definition of a nice guy. He has certainly profited from the brand of being a good dude.  And truth be told, it seems rather genuine. Even if it is impressive, Son's good nature is no real surprise.

  What might be, though, is just how good he has been for LAFC – and so quickly. The stats make for fine reading: six matches (five of them starts), five goals, one assist. He is averaging a goal contribution every 77 minutes – a mark bested only by Messi in MLS.

  And then there's the less tangible stuff. Son presses. Son runs the channels. Son makes the off ball movements that he knows won't lead to a pass, just to draw the attention of others. He creates spaces by being there alone.

  He is scoring different kinds of goals, too. His first was a wonderful free kick, curled in from 30 yards – only the second set piece goal of his entire career. His second was a tap in at the far post. 

  But his hat-trick in Wednesday night's win was most emblematic of his career. He bagged the first with a classic dart in behind the defense. He received a pass on the run, burned a defender, and tucked home. The second was a whipped, snarling thing into the bottom corner from 25 yards. And the third was a weak foot finish off a Denis Bouanga feed.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  How LAFC benefit

  This is all rather good for LAFC, who have quietly done a wonderful job of overhauling their side. They endured a poor start to the season. Olivier Giroud was misfiring, and failing to work in Steve Cherundolo's system. It was widely assumed that they might sign Antoine Griezmann to make it all work. He committed his long term future to Atletico Madrid. Son was the unexpected answer.

  And what an answer he has been. LAFC have lost just one of his six games. Either he or Bounaga have combined for of the team's last 10 goals. The are more fluid, better balanced. And, in all honesty, they're more watchable. Soccer is a product, and LAFC, in signing Son, have created a pretty good one. 

  Another key element here is the way that Son seems to have taken to his teammates. These are the little glimpses into life that suggest something resembling harmony. When asked about his own performance Wednesday, Son swiftly went about thanking seemingly every single member of the LAFC team before acknowledging that he, too, had played quite a good game.

  He and Bouanga do each other's celebrations. There are Instagram selifes, and lockerroom celebrations. 

  "He'll play the right pass over taking the shot," former USMNT star Maurice Edu told GOAL. "He'll find ways to bring his team into the game. His body language and all that. His demeanor doesn't come across as whiny and complaining. It's more like, 'OK, how do I get my team motivated?' And those are valuable traits to have from a superstar."

Martin Guptill has officially confirmed his retirement from international cricket, having last played for New Zealand in October 2022. Guptill, 38, will continue to feature in T20 leagues around the world.Guptill is currently in action for Auckland in the Super Smash, New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition, and has also signed up for the PSL draft, where Islamabad United have the option to retain him.Guptill leaves the international stage as a white-ball great for New Zealand, having racked up 7346 runs in 198 ODIs – only Ross Taylor (8607) and Stephen Fleming (8007) have scored more in the format for the Black Caps. In T20I cricket, he is still New Zealand’s highest run-getter, with 3531 in 122 games at an average of 31.81 and strike rate of 135.70.Related

• 'Thank You Gup' day in Auckland on January 4 to celebrate Guptill's career

Guptill also played 47 Tests from 2009 to 2016, though he didn’t have as much success in the longest format, scoring 2586 runs at 29.38.”As a young kid it was always my dream to play for New Zealand and I feel incredibly lucky and proud to have played 367 games for my country,” Guptill said in an NZC statement. “I will forever cherish the memories made wearing the silver fern alongside a great group of guys.”I want to say a huge thanks to all my team-mates and coaching staff over the years, in particular Mark O’Donnell who has coached me since the Under-19 level and been a source of ongoing support and wisdom over my career.”To my wife Laura and our beautiful children Harley and Teddy – thank you. Thank you Laura for the sacrifices you have made for me and our family. You’ve been my biggest supporter, my rock and my counsel through all of the ups and downs that come with the game. I am eternally grateful.”Finally, I’d like to thank all the cricket fans, here in NZ and around the world for all their support throughout the years.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Guptill had made an immediate impact on his ODI debut in January 2009, when he clattered 122 not out off 135 balls against West Indies in Auckland. Six years later in the 2015 ODI World Cup quarter-finals at home, Guptill smashed an unbeaten 237 off 163 balls against the same opposition. Only India’s Rohit Sharma has a higher individual score in ODI cricket.Guptill’s explosive hitting at the top during the 2015 ODI World Cup – he scored a chart-topping 547 runs – played a vital role in New Zealand making the final, which they lost to Australia at the MCG.Four years later, Guptill was in the hot seat when New Zealand lost the 2019 ODI World Cup final to England at Lord’s without actually losing it. After having been trapped lbw for 19 off 18 balls in regular time, he returned to bat in the Super Over along with Jimmy Neesham but was run-out off the last ball as England won the title on boundary count.It got to Guptill and his New Zealand team-mates. “Neesham batted very well, and for Guppy to be that man in the situation – I’d have backed him every day of the week,” Taylor told the while recounting that nerve-wracking finish. “But, you know, Archer bowled very well and Roy did a good throw to Buttler. But at the same time, disappointed as a team, and disappointed for my team-mates and Guptill. But hopefully he’s still proud of what he did in getting us there and doesn’t put too much pressure on himself for that.”Though Guptill wasn’t at his best with the bat in the 2019 ODI World Cup, he certainly was at his best in the field in the rain-hit semi-final against India. He launched a rocket direct hit after running in from deep square leg to catch MS Dhoni just short. That run-out helped New Zealand make their second successive ODI World Cup final. Earlier in the tournament, in a league fixture against Australia, he had taken a blinder at leg gully to send back Steven Smith.Guptill was then part of the New Zealand team that had progressed to the T20 World Cup final in Dubai in 2021. Guptill was also part of the T20 World Cup squad in Australia in 2022 but did not get to play as Finn Allen was preferred over him.In November 2022, Guptill gave up his New Zealand central contract to become a freelancer. Since then, he has played in Australia’s Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League, the Caribbean Premier League, the UAE’s ILT20 and the Nepal Premier League.When ‘Thank You Gup’ day was celebrated in Auckland in January last year, with the Eden Park Outer Oval turning into the ‘Martin Guptill Oval’ for a Super Smash testimonial game, it felt like Guptill’s retirement party.But he returned for the 2024-25 Super Smash, starting the season with scores of 31 off 23 balls and 60 off 35 balls for Auckland. Tom Latham, who witnessed Guptill’s most recent fifty from behind the stumps for Canterbury and has also opened the batting with him for New Zealand, paid tribute to the departing hero.”On his day, Gup was world-class and his crisp ball-striking and timing could take down the best bowling attacks in the world,” Latham said. “His numbers speak for themselves, but it was the matches he helped us win that I’ll remember, along with the way he set the standard in the field. I wish him all the best for what the future holds and hope to see him around a cricket ground soon.”Guptill’s glittering Black Caps career will be acknowledged during the team’s third ODI against Sri Lanka at Eden Park on January 11.

It will be the first women’s T20 tournament to be held in Bangladesh; could kick off at the end of the ongoing BPL

Mohammad Isam17-Jan-2025

The BCB will be launching a maiden Women’s Bangladesh Premier League (WBPL); it is likely to be held soon after the ongoing men’s competition ends on February 7. According to Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, the BCB director, it will be a three-team competition, with each team playing the others twice for a total of six league games followed by the final.”The board has been thinking about the various ways that we can take women’s cricket forward,” Fahim said. “Whether we can do a T20 competition for women was in our thoughts. We have decided today that we will do the Women’s BPL.”Fahim said the BCB is in talks with some of the men’s BPL franchises regarding ownership of the women’s teams, and that a couple of owners have shown interest.”We have already spoken to a few BPL franchises, who have shown interest [in owning women’s teams],” he said. “We want to see how a women’s tournament has an effect on our T20 cricket. We are hopeful that it will help our women’s game progress.”Fahim said that only allow one overseas player will be allowed in the playing XI, with the squads having a maximum of 15 players each.”We won’t take many overseas players due to the financial constraints,” he said. “Four overseas players puts financial pressure on the teams; perhaps they don’t want to take that pressure. We want to give more opportunities to our domestic cricketers. We want to add competitiveness.”It will be the first women’s T20 tournament to be held in Bangladesh. Women cricketers in the country play the one-day league in Dhaka, and the BCB recently launched a women’s three-day competition.

Leeds United are battling to secure more arrivals before the transfer window closes, and a Bundesliga manager has hinted he could be set to replace a midfielder who has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road.

Leeds United draw a line through Arsenal defeat

After the thrill of an opening day victory over Everton, Leeds took on a timely reminder of how bruising life can be in the Premier League last weekend in a 5-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Daniel Farke is acutely aware of the tough challenge ahead if his team want to secure survival, and he was quick to rue the Gunners’ ruthless nature in front of goal on a day to forget in the capital when speaking in his post-match press conference.

He stated: “It was always a difficult game for us here, travelling without our captain, Arsenal’s first home game, the whole stadium was buzzing. We had to suffer a lot in the first 15 minutes, then we came into the game, so it’s annoying to concede the first goal from a set-piece. They had five shots on goal and five goals, and it’s difficult when they’re as effective as they were today.”

Drawing a line through an immensely frustrating result, Leeds have swiftly moved on to their pursuit of Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa, who is also wanted by Nottingham Forest in the final stretch of the market period.

Bournemouth star James Hill could also complete a late move to Elland Road, and there are more links appearing by the hour as the Whites go all out to secure survival.

With plenty left in the budget, Farke and company may be on alert after recent developments involving someone who has been a target at the club over the last few months.

Leeds target Julian Weigl could be sold by Borussia Monchengladbach

Earlier this year, Leeds made contact to sign Borussia Monchengladbach captain Julian Weigl and it now appears that he could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Bild report that manager Roland Virkus has confirmed he is now considering replacing Weigl after releasing him for talks at an unnamed club, which meant he missed out during his side’s 0-0 draw against Hamburg on the Bundesliga’s opening weekend.

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Virkus stated: “If Julian really leaves the club, which is not yet certain, then as a club manager you naturally think about what else you can do in this position.”

With Al-Shabab also thought to be among Weigl’s closest admirers, whoever lands the experienced German international will be inheriting a savvy operator in the engine room, who has scored three times and laid on 6 assists in 94 appearances for his club.

Farke has previously worked with the 29-year-old at Borussia Monchengladbach, so could a reunion now be on the cards between the two at Elland Road? Only time will tell on that front.

كشف أحمد جاب الله طبيب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، عن حالة الرباعي إمام عاشور وكريم فؤاد وأشرف داري وأحمد رضا، وموقف تعافيهم من الإصابات التي يعانون منها بالفترة الأخيرة.

ويعاني الأهلي من عدة إصابات خلال الفترة الماضية، بجانب توقف منافسات الدوري المصري في الوقت الراهن، بسبب انشغال منتخب مصر بتصفيات كأس العالم.

وقال أحمد جاب الله، في تصريحات عبر الموقع الرسمي لـ الأهلي: “حالة إمام عاشور لاعب الفريق، مستقرة وفي تحسن مستمر، ويتم متابعة التحاليل من وقت لآخر، بالإضافة إلى إجراء تحاليل جديدة في بداية الأسبوع المقبل”.

وأكمل: “من المتوقع أن يكون هناك تحسن كبير، خاصة أن اللاعب ملتزم بالبرنامج العلاجي والغذائي من قبل الجهاز الطبي بالنادي، وبمجرد اكتمال شفائه، سيبدأ مرحلة التأهيل والتجهيز البدني للمشاركة في التدريبات”.

طالع | الأهلي يُعلن التشخيص النهائي لإصابة حسين الشحات ومدة غيابه

وأوضح: “كريم فؤاد يواصل تنفيذ برنامج العلاج الطبيعي والتأهيلي المخصص له، عقب إصابته في العضلة الأمامية، ويتم تجهيزه، حيث يجري آشعة جديدة في بداية الأسبوع المقبل، لتحديد درجة التعافي من الإصابة وعودته للتدريبات”.

وواصل: “أشرف داري تعرض لإصابة جديدة عبارة عن تمزق بوتر العضلات أسفل البطن (فتق رياضي) وسيخضع اللاعب لآشعة وفحوصات أخرى، لتحديد الخطة العلاجية المناسبة”.

وأتم: “أحمد رضا، لاعب خط وسط الفريق، شعر بآلام في الركبة أثناء التدريب، وتم اتخاذ الإجراءات الطبية اللازمة من فحوصات طبية وآشعات الرنين، لتجهيز اللاعب للمشاركة في التدريبات عقب التوقف الدولي”.