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“I am not using that as an excuse. I still think that the onus is on the players to find some way to churn up runs and wickets”

Ashish Pant04-Oct-20255:49

Bishop: Want WI batters to stop being satisfied with 20s and 30s

Roston Chase has voiced concerns about the “infrastructure problems” and the continuous “struggle for finances” in the Caribbean, but said that he didn’t want to use that as an excuse for West Indies’ poor performances in Test cricket in recent times.West Indies have lost five of their six Test matches this year. This includes being bundled out for 27 in the third Test against Australia in July. On Saturday, they went down by an innings and 140 runs to India on the third day of the opening Test in Ahmedabad.”I think the systems in the Caribbean are a bit poor in terms of training facilities and stuff,” Chase said after the game. “I am not using that as an excuse or something to hide behind for poor performances that we’ve been putting out lately. I still think that the onus is on the players to find some way to churn up runs and wickets and stuff.Related

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“But what I would say is yes, there is obviously a struggle in the Caribbean for finances. So whatever help we can get, if they are planning to get the help, I hope that we do get it so that we could strengthen the infrastructure for cricket.”While West Indies still have good fast bowlers in their set-up, their batting has been in freefall. In their last 15 innings in Test cricket, they have crossed 250 only once. Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s first-class average of 34.80 was the best among the top six batters in the West Indies’ XI for the first Test against India. Chase attributed the low averages to the pitches in the Caribbean not being batting-friendly.”Yeah, that is some of the infrastructure problems that we do have,” he said. “The pitches in the Caribbean are not really batsman-friendly. So guys don’t really bat for long periods and score those big scores. And then, too, the outfields in the Caribbean are really slow. When you hit the ball in the gaps, you probably end up struggling to get two. Those are just some of the problems that we are faced with in the Caribbean.”That’s why you see guys averaging so low. If you look at the past series we had against Australia, I think that was the first time I’ve ever played an international series where a batsman never scored a hundred in three matches. Obviously, we had a poor batting display. This has been something that has been plaguing us for the past two series.”In Ahmedabad, West Indies won the toss and batted first. They were bowled out for 162 in 44.1 overs in their first innings, and for 146 in 45.1 in their second.”We’ve not been able to at least bat 80 overs, bat a day or even get at least 250 or 300 runs on the board,” Chase said. “Anytime you win a toss in a Test match and bat and you don’t bat out the first day, you’re always going to be in trouble.”We saw the wicket. Although it had a bit of moisture, we still thought that it was a good wicket to bat first on. We thought that once we batted well and the openers went out there and just softened that moisture, then it would have been a good wicket to bat on, as we did see coming on later into the first day. But we didn’t start well and we never really put any partnerships in place. We never really got back into the game.”Chase suggested the only way for the batters to improve was to tighten and trust their defence. “We gifted some of the wickets too easily,” he said. “For me, it was a bit of rough and some balls were spinning up the rough. But there wasn’t any devils in the wicket. I still thought that it was a wicket that you could stand up and bat on as shown by the Indian batters.”But we need to trust in our defence a bit more. I can’t say that we weren’t scoring because the run rate was still good. But I just think that we need to be a little more solid in our defence.”West Indies are missing two of their three main fast bowlers in the series against India•AFP/Getty Images

While West Indies’ batting has been an issue, they are also missing two of their key fast bowlers in Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph through injuries. Jason Holder also declined to be a replacement, citing a planned medical procedure. Players picking and choosing formats has also been an issue with West Indies, but Chase said that “a guy is going to try to earn his living”.”I can’t really speak on another man’s body,” Chase said. “One thing I can say is that there’s a lot more cricket being played. There’s not a lot of rest for a player, especially if he’s playing all formats of the game. And then, especially with the leagues around the world, guys are looking to earn their money. They’re not really resting, getting adequate rest that their body may need.”But if they can try to stay as fit as possible and do a lot of gym work and not get too bulky but be strong enough that they can handle the load or in the case where they can pick and choose certain formats of the game and be available, I think that would be obviously better for us. But it is what it is. A guy is going to try to earn his living.”So I can’t really fault a guy for trying to go there and be available for whatever cricket it may be that he’s given the opportunity to play.”

Liverpool made sweeping changes in the summer transfer window, going where no team had gone before in spending more than £400m in a single transfer window.

A multitude of sales meant the total net spend fell behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, but the scale of Liverpool’s transformation cannot be understated, with FSG breaking the British transfer record twice.

First, Florian Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, and the world-class playmaker has been one of the most worrying parts of Arne Slot’s side’s struggles this season, yet to score or assist in the top flight.

Alexander Isak has been a concern too, signing on deadline day for £125m. The former Newcastle United striker was called “the best striker in the Premier League” by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher last year, but injuries and a struggle to click under Slot’s wing have left him with one goal and one assist across all competitions so far.

These players have to come good. Surely they will. These are two of the world’s finest, after all. However, the blunder of the Darwin Nunez deal serves as a cautionary tale that FSG perhaps haven’t heeded.

Why Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez

Nunez is one of the biggest and most frustrating enigmas of recent times at Liverpool. A maverick of a forward, the 25-year-old was horribly inconsistent across his three years at the club, only scoring 25 Premier League goals in total and missing so many more golden opportunities.

Given that he signed from Benfica for what would have been a club-record £85m fee (not reached due to clauses being left unmet), Nunez can only be considered a flop of a signing, never able to string together the prolificness needed to lead the line at Liverpool.

The likes of Wirtz and Isak will be worried that they face assuming similar reputations, no doubt, although both have arrived at Liverpool from a higher station than Nunez, who was sold to Al-Hilal this summer.

In any case, Nunez will be remembered fondly for his efforts and, for the most part, tenacity in a Liverpool shirt, but it’s clear that had Liverpool’s fortunes been bleaker across his years at the club, he would have faced more scathing rebuke.

And that might be the case for one new Redman. This player arrived this summer for a hefty fee and looks utterly lost in Slot’s system. In this, he is in danger of falling into a similar category.

The Liverpool star in danger of becoming Nunez 2.0

Signed from Bournemouth this summer for a £45m fee, Kerkez arrived at Liverpool with a weight of expectation and a reputation as one of the most exciting young left-backs in the world.

He was breathtaking in Andoni Iraola’s team last year, but Kerkez has fallen by the wayside across the opening months of his move to Merseyside.

Kerkez’s transfer fee might come in at less than half of that of someone like Nunez, but this is still a pretty penny for a full-back, and he faces a plummet into similar territory as the Uruguayan if he fails to hit a consistent vein of form.

There’s no question that this young man has what it takes to thrive at Liverpool; he was included in the 2024/25 PFA Team of the Year, after all.

However, Kerkez has really struggled across these opening months in Liverpool, a shadow of that south coast star.

Erratic and at odds with the tactical role that has been provided for him, the 22-year-old has lost his place in the starting line-up in recent weeks, unable to effectively add to the build-up.

Last season, Kerkez ranked among the top 12% of Premier League full-backs for progressive carries per 90 (2.86), but this has been reduced under Slot’s wing, ranking among the bottom 36% this year, with a 1.55 average (data courtesy of FBref).

But the wider shift of Kerkez’s tactical role is more clearly understood when looking at the wider scope of his malaise since that big-money transfer to Liverpool.

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

10 (9)

Goals

2

1

Assists

5

0

Touches*

59.6

50.8

Accurate passes*

28.6 (80%)

27.5 (86%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.5

Dribble (success)*

0.6

0.3

Recoveries*

4.7

2.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.6

Clearances*

2.6

3.4

Duels won*

4.0 (54%)

3.7 (61%)

Errors made

4x

2x

The £75k-per-week talent is no longer making those overlapping runs into the box, and neither has he found fluency and balance in his creativity this season. Given that he has been branded a “nervous wreck” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, it’s hard to see what he is offering his new club at this present moment, and that is why he has been benched for the Reds’ past two matches in both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Of course, it is far too early to write Kerkez off, and this argument has been formed to underline the need for improvements on Kerkez’s part, but also with the hope for patience. This is a young and talented left-back who is struggling to perform in a system that has malfunctioned across the past several months.

Let’s not forget how Robertson struggled to adapt in Klopp’s team after joining from relegated Hull City for about £8m in 2016. Imagine if Liverpool had sold the Scotsman after that up-and-down maiden year, written him off before he ripened.

Equally, we cannot ignore the depths of Kerkez’s struggles since joining Liverpool, so incongruent on the flank of Slot’s system.

Given the coach’s need for hearty contribution from his full-backs in the build-up, it’s somewhat confusing that Kerkez has been signed for a big-money fee; he is an athletic, touchline-hugging kind of player, darting up and down and getting involved in attacks and stretching the width of his side.

Whether Liverpool fashion a superstar out of this young Hungarian is anyone’s guess at this stage, but we know he needs to do more, lest he fall into a similar category as Nunez before him, signed for a big fee after hitting heights in a smaller sphere but ultimately tripping up when heading down Anfield Road and putting on the heavy Liverpool shirt.

More than Wirtz: £36m Liverpool star is becoming a "serious issue" for Slot

Liverpool were condemned to a fifth defeat in six Premier League matches at the Etihad.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 10, 2025

Manchester United are considering making a £44m offer for Palmeiras attacker Vitor Roque, having shown an interest in him in the past.

The Red Devils’ summer attacking signings are increasingly coming to the fore, playing a key role in their upturn in fortunes under Ruben Amorim this season.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have been particularly impressive, adding the consistent end product that has so often been lacking in the final third at United in recent years, and justifying being in the club’s 10 most expensive signings of all time.

Amorim has heaped praise on the impact Mbeumo has made in recent weeks, lauding both him and Matheus Cunha after the 3-2 win at home to Brighton last weekend.

“He’s a working machine. He’s so good in transitions. He’s improving when we are organising the final third. The connection with Amad, it’s really hard to beat these two guys because they change position, they are really fast, they are good in one against one.”

United will still be eyeing new signings, though, and they have now been linked with a move for a player with a big future in the game.

Man Utd preparing £44m offer for Vitor Roque

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are considering tabling a £44m offer for Roque, having been linked with a move for him during his Barcelona days.

The 20-year-old was nearly the subject of a £31m bid in that period, but he ended up moving to Palmeiras from Barca earlier this year instead.

Roque could be a great signing for United, being hailed as “truly magnificent” by scout Jacek Kulig and scoring 17 goals in 49 appearances for Palmeiras.

The youngster is also a one-cap Brazil international, and will be hoping to play a part for his country at next summer’s World Cup. He is a centre forward by trade, but his versatility allows him to be a force on both flanks, which has led United to be the “most determined” in the race for his signature as they seek to add varied attacking options to the squad.

Joshua Zirkzee’s United future looks to be in doubt, while Napoli are reportedly pursuing a permanent move for Rasmus Hojlund at the end of the season, so a new striker is likely to be needed at Old Trafford, in order to provide good competition for Benjamin Sesko.

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By
Dan Emery

Oct 31, 2025

In Roque, the Red Devils could have an ideal long-term option whose best years are still way ahead of him, and a return to Europe could appeal to him, not least to bolster his international chances ahead of the World Cup.

Napoli ready to activate Rasmus Hojlund's clause and now another Man Utd as well

We have a full slate of MLB games set to take place today to wrap up the week so as we always do on Rounding the Bases, I'm going to give you my pick for every single one.

Let's finish the week on a high note!

Dodgers vs. Tigers Prediction and PickPick: Dodgers +112

It's a bit shocking to see the Dodgers set as underdogs to the Tigers, but you can understand it when you realize Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.37 ERA) gets the start for the Tigers. Still, I like Los Angeles as an underdog with James Paxton (7-2, 4.24 ERA) on the mound. The Dodgers have a significant offensive advantage in this battle of lefty starters. They rank second in the Majors in OPS vs. lefties at .801 while the Tigers rank 25th at .659.

Athletics vs. Phillies Prediction and PickPick: Athletics +235

I'm going to take a shot on the Athletics as significant underdogs in Philadelphia tonight. It seems crazy, but the A's offense has been respectable against left-handed pitchers this season, ranking 12th in OPS against lefties at .729. They also have Hogan Harris on the mound, who has a solid 3.22 ERA. The A's are more live in this game than the odds would seem to indicate.

Guardians vs. Rays Prediction and PickPick: Rays -144

As I've said for the past couple of days, it's time to buy low on the Rays. Their offense has been bad for the first half of the season, but they've finally started to turn things around and are now ninth in MLB in OPS over the past 30 days.

Yankees vs. Orioles Prediction and PickPick: Orioles +106

Gerrit Cole enters tonight with a 6.75 ERA through his first handful of starts this season and now he has to pitch against arguably the best offense in baseball in the Orioles. I won't hesitate to back the O's as home underdogs in this AL East battle.

Rockies vs. Mets Prediction and PickPick: Mets -240

Tanner Gordon of the Rockies allowed eight hits and five earned runs in his first start in the Majors. I won't consider betting on the Rockies when he starts for them until he proves he can succeed at the Major League level.

Marlins vs. Reds Prediction and PickPick: Reds -158

It's tough to find any reason to justify a bet on the Marlins. They're dead last in the Majors in OPS over the last 30 days at .623.

Royals vs. Red Sox Prediction and PickPick: Red Sox -102

The Royals offense got off to a hot start but has been struggling of late. They're now 26th in the Majors in OPS over the last 30 days while the Red Sox rank third over that stretch. I'll jump all over Boston in this one.

Rangers vs. Astros Prediction and PickPick: Rangers +136

Andrew Heaney is due to get a couple more wins on his record. He has a 3.80 ERA but a record of just 3-9. Keep an eye on the Rangers, they may start to get hot in the next few weeks.

Nationals vs. Brewers Prediction and PickPick: Brewers -220

In a pitching matchup between Jackson Rutledge (9.00 ERA) and Freddy Peralta (3.95 ERA), backing Peralta and the Brewers is an absolute no-brainer.

Pirates vs. White Sox Prediction and PickPick: White Sox -156

The White Sox offense may be bad, but they can win games with Garrett Crochet (3.08 ERA) on the mound. Let's also remember the Pirates are 25th in OPS over the last 30 days, only slightly better than the White Sox.

Cubs vs. Cardinals Prediction and PickPick: Cardinals -196

How is Kyle Hendricks still a part of this Cubs rotation? He has a 1-7 record and a 7.53 ERA. If you're brave enough to back him by betting on Chicago, best of luck to you. I refuse to go down that road. Give me the Cardinals as sizable home favorites.

Mariners vs. Angels Prediction and PickPick: Angels +124

My take that the Mariners are going to regress soon hasn't worked out the past few days, but I'm sticking to it. Despite scoring 11 runs last night, they're still batting just .211 over the past 30 days. I'm sticking to my guns and backing Los Angeles as a home underdog.

Blue Jays vs. Diamondbacks Prediction and PickPick: Diamondbacks -126

It's tough to back the Blue Jays with how they've found ways to lose games lately. The Diamondbacks offense has been significantly better this season and the Jays bullpen is always susceptible to blowing a lead.

Braves vs. Padres Prediction and PickPick: Padres +100

The Braves offense has been struggling of late, ranking 19th in OPS over the past 30 days. The fact Spencer Schwellenback and his 5.02 ERA gets the start for them tonight doesn't help their chances. I'll back the Padres as home underdogs.

Twins vs. Giants Prediction and PickPick: Twins -142

The Twins offense has been the best in baseball over the past month, leading the Majors in OPS over that time frame at .891. I see no reason to stop betting on them.

Enzo Maresca returned silverware to Stamford Bridge last season, two loads of it. Chelsea also finished fourth in the Premier League to unlock the doorway into the Champions League.

It’s been an up-and-down start to the 2025/26 campaign, but there’s little sense that Chelsea have been hit with a case of second-season syndrome, instead finding their footing after a summer of change.

There is enough on show for the fans to remain confident in the project. Before the international break, the Londoners beat Liverpool, and it was Estevao Willian who wheeled away in celebration after that last-gasp strike against the champions, Chelsea making their pressure and optimism count and keeping pace on the fringes of the early title pack.

However, if the Maresca era is to reach new heights, the Blues will need a ready-made superstar to lead the way toward glory. Someone, perhaps, in the vein of Eden Hazard.

Hazard's Chelsea legacy

Hazard is one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League. He might have retired relatively early, but the Belgian maverick gave everything across seven seasons for Chelsea, and his record-breaking departure to Real Madrid in 2019 led Joe Cole to hail him as “the greatest player the club has ever had.”

The 34-year-old played 352 matches for Chelsea, scoring 110 goals and supplying 88 assists. No player in Premier League history has completed more take-ons in a single campaign than him (180), as per Squawka.

Quite simply, his dribbling and directness left nothing to be desired; what more could be demanded from one of the greatest to do it?

The two-time league champion also won two Europa League titles among further domestic honours. Four times he was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year, and he was crowned the Premier League Player of the Season in 2014/15 after guiding his side to the trophy.

In some ways, Estevao may be a new incarnation of the fleet-footed winger, but Hazard was a talisman who transcended his positional role, and there’s another within Maresca’s squad who is shaping up to be the next version.

Chelsea's new version of Eden Hazard

While Estevao has the world at his feet, it’s important not to overburden the 18-year-old. That said, Cole Palmer is already settled into his talismanic berth at Stamford Bridge, and he has the quality and experience to lift Chelsea to new heights and emulate Hazard.

Palmer, 23, joined the Blues from Manchester City just over two years ago, penning a long-term contract off the back of a £42.5m fee.

Ice-cold from the start, the England international’s maiden campaign in the capital was the stuff of legend, fast-tracking himself to the overhanging posters across the Premier League advertising boards. He was, in other words, instantly among the most talented and marketable players in the country.

Given that Palmer is still so young, hailed by Sky Sports’ Nick Wright as being ‘Chelsea’s new leader’, the rangy playmaker might not have Hazard’s same blistering speed, but he’s got the skills and potency in the final third to guide Chelsea toward heights more illustrious than have been reached already under Maresca’s wing.

Indeed, it’s curious to note that Palmer has actually outperformed Hazard across his opening two terms at the outfit, when comparing the superstars’ respective starts to life in London.

Games

111

97

Goals

30

43

Assists

31

29

G/A Rate

0.55

0.74

Trophies

2x

2x

Maybe this underscores just how impressive a start to life at Chelsea Palmer has made. There was a reason that Jamie Carragher described the Three Lions star as “the best player in the Premier League” one year ago, after all.

Having struggled with injury across the opening months of the new campaign, Palmer has only featured four times across all competitions, with two goals scored. Despite his limited showing thus far, Palmer has been praised by Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp for a “world-class” performance against Bayern Munich in September.

But he’s a hero for the club, alright, and could leave a legacy that ends up rivalling and maybe even surpassing that of Hazard.

Chelsea's "young Hudson-Odoi" is now on borrowed time because of Estevao

Estevao’s stunning ascent at Chelsea could now mean this other exciting starlet is on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 15, 2025

It was another night to forget for Celtic on the European stage as they were condemned to another defeat by SC Braga, but it was VAR that stole the biggest headlines.

Rodgers admits he must find Celtic "solution"

Whilst Rangers’ struggles have taken much of the focus in Scotland this season, Celtic are quietly enduring a frustrating season of their own by their standards. The Bhoys haven’t won in three games and now sit second in the Scottish Premiership courtesy of a surprisingly quick start from Hearts, with things not getting much better on the European stage.

Playing host to Braga in their first home game of the Europa League campaign, Celtic were put to the sword and found themselves behind in the first-half courtesy of Ricardo Horta’s effort from range, before Gabri Martinez sealed the three points from the bench in the 85th minute.

After another disappointing evening, Brendan Rodgers admitted that he must find a “solution” to his side’s current problems.

It’s not just Celtic’s performance that the manager will be frustrated by, though. It was also an interesting night in the VAR room, with the officials deciding to rule Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal out to deny Celtic their equaliser in controversial fashion.

The Nigerian has been in excellent form since arriving in Scotland, but had his best moment yet chalked off in a decision that has left Celtic and Rodgers fuming.

VAR audio exposes why Iheanacho had goal ruled out

The VAR audio, shared by commentator Jamie Lyall, exposed why officials denied Celtic an equaliser. Lyall said: “Officials are saying there is a clear brush of the left arm somewhere in the footage.”

Chris Sutton named Celtic legend his "best" ever teammate and as good as Shearer

He was full of praise…

ByTom Cunningham Oct 2, 2025

Now, this is where things begin to get controversial. In the replay of the goal, it’s difficult to spot just where this “clear brush of the arm” is that the VAR officials have spotted. The more that the moment is replayed, the more it seems as though Celtic have every right to be frustrated.

Rodgers had his say on the moment after the game, telling reporters: “I can’t understand why the referee isn’t asked to go and have a look at it.

“Even if you look at it once, twice, and I’m assuming the guys in the VAR will have watched it more than that, because of the time it took, there’s absolutely no way from every angle you look at that he’s touched it. It’s hit his face, he’s gone on and finished it really, really well.”

Iyer said he made the decision despite the dew because of the trend of teams batting first winning

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Apr-2025

Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and opted to bat against his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Both the matches in Mullanpur this IPL so far have featured 200-plus targets and successful defences. Iyer said he made the decision despite the dew because of the trend of teams batting first winning.There were caps handed out on both sides. Anrich Nortje made his KKR debut replacing Moeen Ali. It was clear KKR wanted to go express pace against a side whose Indian batters have been doing well.In the absence of the injured Lockie Ferguson, PBKS handed out a debut to Xavier Bartlett, the Australia fast bowler, who can bat a little down the order. They also beefed up their batting with the introduction of Josh Inglis to go with their India-heavy batting. Marcus Stoinis was left out.Related

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PBKS are likely to bring in Yash Thakur when bowling in the second innings. KKR had Angkrish Raghuvanshi as the extra batter among their substitutes.This was expected to be an emotional match for Shreyas, who led KKR to the title last year, but wasn’t retained by the team, who were left scrambling for a captain by the end of the auction.Punjab Kings 1 Prabhsimran Singh (wk), 2 Priyansh Arya, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt.), 4 Josh Inglis (wk), 5 Nehal Wadhera, 6 Shashank Singh, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Xavier Bartlett, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Arshdeep SinghPBKS bench V Vyshak, Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Harpreet Brar, Pravin DubeyKolkata Knight Riders 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt.), 4 Rinku Singh, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Anrich Nortje, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun ChakravarthyKKR bench Manish Pandey, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia

Aston Villa have been hindered this summer by the Premier League’s controversial Profit and Sustainability regulations, imposed prohibitively on Unai Emery’s plans this summer.

There’s no question that the focus is on returning to the Champions League and Emery crowning his era in the English Midlands with silverware, but that’s easier said than done.

Villa are into the Europa League, at least, having finished sixth last term, falling agonisingly short after a miserable and contentious loss at Old Trafford on the final day.

While the Premier League side have missed out on the bonanza that would have come through reprising their place in Europe’s elite competition, they have completed some shrewd signings, with Marco Bizot from Brest taking the number two spot between the sticks and the versatile Evann Guessand adding firepower across the frontline, having recently signed from OGC Nice.

Though another deal could yet be completed, it appears that much hinges on the future of Leon Bailey.

The latest on Leon Bailey's Villa future

The Athletic have confirmed that Bailey, 28, is in talks with Serie A giants Roma over a potential transfer away from Villa Park this summer.

The Jamaican winger only started 14 times in the Premier League last season as he struggled against injuries, which punctuated his campaign.

However, he was electric the term before, racking up 19 goal contributions across the top-flight campaign, and it’s clear that more quality is needed to ensure that Emery has enough firepower to tackle multiple fronts once again this year.

And should Roma secure their quarry, it appears the Villans have already lined up the perfect replacement.

Villa join race for Bailey replacement

According to journalist Sebastien Vidal, Aston Villa are ready to join the race for Leicester City winger Abdul Fatawu, should Bailey complete his potential move to Roma in the coming weeks.

The 21-year-old Fatawu suffered an injury-hit 2024/25 season but managed to showcase his quality across the smattering of fixtures he appeared in.

Everton have also been reported to have a vested interest in the speedy winger, so Monchi and co will need to ramp up the gas if they hope to get this one over the line.

Why Emery wants Abdul Fatawu

Leicester signed Fatawu from Sporting Lisbon last summer after he played an instrumental role in achieving promotion from the Championship in 2023/24.

An athletic, pacy and combative winger, Fatawu has the perfect skill set for the Premier League, and given that he has burst onto the scene in the second tier, he could prove to be Villa’s next version of Morgan Rogers.

The ice-cold attacking midfielder was one of Aston Villa’s biggest success stories from last season, notching 30 goal contributions across all competitions as he played a crucial role in making Emery’s system tick. The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell had described him as a “machine” of an attacking midfielder for his labours.

However, he’d previously completed 61 matches in the Championship, and it’s for this reason that Villa could repeat their own trick by signing Fatawu from the King Power Stadium this summer.

Remarked by talent scout Jacek Kulig to have been “simply unplayable” at times across the 2023/24 Championship season, it’s regrettable from a Leicester standpoint that Fatawu was cruelly ruled out for the lion’s share of last season, especially when he showed great promise across his few outings in ther Premier League.

In fact, even though Fatawu has struggled for fitness over the past 12 months, he still ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for progressive carries, the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 15 for tackles won per 90 too, via FBref.

Indeed, looking at the Ghanaian’s performances across the past two years, you begin to see why Emery is invested in striking a deal over the next couple of weeks, adding not just creativity to his side but also some muscle and energy to his right flank too.

Matches (starts)

40 (33)

11 (6)

Goals

6

0

Assists

13

2

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.4)

1.2 (0.5)

Pass completion

80%

68%

Big chances created

32

2

Key passes*

1.7

0.5

Dribbles*

2.3

2.6

Ball recoveries*

3.7

3.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.0

2.3

Duels (won)*

6.1

7.6

And though he’s only played once in the Championship this season, Sofascore also record that the rising prospect completed six dribbles and won a whopping 12 duels, underscoring his one-of-a-kind physicality.

This level of completeness at such an early stage of his career emphasises a likeness to the 23-year-old Rogers, for the England international won 4.7 duels and made 1.2 tackles per game in the Premier League last season, as also recorded by Sofascore.

But with a potent attacking threat at the forefront of his game, it’s clear that Rogers could find himself mimicked by Fatawu, should the Ghanaian succeed in earning his big move after two years with Leicester which have shown potential but seen him spiral back into the Premier League after frustration last season.

Given that Rogers also created 16 big chances in the top flight last term, partnered with his preferred position existing in the centre or out on the left, there’s no reason why Fatawu and Rogers could not cohabit in Emery’s starting line-up over the coming years, each sharing similar skills but bearing their own tactical identity.

Whether Aston Villa manage to pull this one off remains to be seen, especially since Everton remain hopeful that they can strike a deal themselves.

But without a doubt, this is the kind of shrewd signing that could bear dividends in the long run, and if Bailey’s chapter in England truly is at an end, there are few better replacements currently on the market.

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MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians recebeu, nesta sexta-feira (23), o prêmio CONAFUT, de melhor departamento de futebol feminino do Brasil no ano de 2022. 70% dos votos vieram de um júri especializado, 20% dos participantes do evento e 10% de votação popular.

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+ Corinthians aproveita erros do Santos, e Ruan Oliveira se destaca em vitória; veja notas

Esta é a terceira vez que as Brabas garantem o prêmio CONAFUT, vencendo a categoria em 2018 e 2021. Cris Gambaré, diretora do futebol feminino do Timão, ressaltou o trabalho realizado no clube nesses últimos anos. 

+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

– O Corinthians é um case de sucesso no futebol feminino porque conseguiu ocupar o espaço correto. Foi dada essa oportunidade e soubemos fazer da melhor forma o que a equipe precisava em cada ano – disse Cris ao receber o prêmio da CONAFUT.

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A diretoria destacou que a meta do departamento é colocar o clube entre os cinco melhores do mundo.

– O melhor foco para seguir como referência é sempre buscar um objetivo a mais. E, claro, além de tudo isso, respeitar as atletas, a comissão técnica e o nosso próprio espaço – concluiu Cris.

+ Timão se afasta do Z4? Veja tabela e os próximos jogos do Brasileirão

Em 2022, as Brabas faturaram a Supercopa do Brasil, o Campeonato Brasileiro e a Copa Paulista.

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has admitted he was worried for Ruben Amorim’s side after Chelsea were reduced to 10 men early on in Saturday’s clash at Old Trafford. The Red Devils went on to win 2-1 against the Blues, but Rooney has revealed he was concerned his former club would lose to the 10 men which would have brought even more pressure on Amorim.

Man Utd secure much-needed win

Amorim's side picked up a much-needed win on Saturday by beating Chelsea 2-1. The Blues suffered an early blow when goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off after just four minutes, before goals Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro put the hosts in a commanding position. United looked set to cruise to victory but a red card for Casemiro and a late goal from Trevoh Chalobah meant Amorim's side ended up hanging on for a scrappy win.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRooney reveals Man Utd fears

Rooney has now shared his thoughts on the game and admitted he feared for the Red Devils after Chelsea went a man down. He told : "Do you know what? I thought even with 11 men, I thought they started the game really well and caused Chelsea problems. And then when Chelsea went to 10 men, I was worried! I was thinking, it's just like United now to go and lose the game. And then I think that would have brought a whole lot of more pressure on the manager. But I thought they played really well first half and then second half, it's silly, it's naive from Casemiro. As soon as he got his yellow card, I was watching it in the BBC studios with Danny Murphy and I said that I'd take him off. He's going to get sent off. You just knew what was going to happen and it could have cost us in the end."

Man Utd's discipline impresses Rooney

Rooney also revealed how impressed he was with Manchester United's discipline after they had lost Casemiro. He added: "I think what I liked in the second half was the discipline from United, they defended well and kept the ball in front of them and Chelsea were poor. Chelsea were slow and moving the ball side to side but not really trying to penetrate. The only two crosses they put in the box is the one for the goal and one late on which caused another big chance but I think you have to praise Man United for in them conditions as well, they showed a lot of discipline and that's a huge win. Let’s just enjoy the three points!"

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Casemiro makes unwanted history for Man Utd

Casemiro's red card means he is the first Manchester United player to score and be sent off in the first half of a Premier League match, and the first overall in the competition since Emmanuel Adebayor for Spurs against Arsenal in November 2012.