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Arsenal have gone from strength to strength under Mikel Arteta’s management, and there’s a sense that this year is as good as any as they look to win their first top-flight title in two decades.

Seven matches into the Premier League campaign, the Gunners set the pace, 16 points claimed from 21 possible. Liverpool trail by a single point after successive defeats.

New technical director Andrea Berta has succeeded in bringing over some exciting summer signings, and in particular, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze have caught the eye.

But the £60m striker, Viktor Gyokeres, leaves something to be desired, having arrived to much fanfare after hitting incredible prolific heights in Portugal with two-in-a-row league champions Sporting Lisbon.

Viktor Gyokeres' Arsenal career so far

Gyokeres, at the very least, knows where the back of the net is. However, his performances across the opening weeks of the campaign haven’t been all that serviceable,

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has described him as a “battering ram” who could “beat up smaller teams”, but there’s a sense he might have work to do when pitted against those of an ostensibly higher technical level.

The 27-year-old’s frustrations aren’t limited to the domestic front, though, having blanked across his first two forays into the Champions League as an Arsenal player. During these fixtures against Athletic Bilbao and Olympiakos, he has missed three big chances (data courtesy of Sofascore).

It is also surely worth stressing that we are only two months into the campaign. There is plenty of time for this powerful goalscorer to continue to adapt to life as a high-profile Premier League marksman.

As Neville has alluded to, the contrast between “misfit” Gyokeres and the more technically smooth attacking teammates around him is not necessarily a bad thing, but he will need to sharpen his overall link-up play.

Gyokeres, after all, has the talent to become the Gunners’ finest centre-forward in many years, though whether he would take the cake when peering back at positional rivals over the past ten years or so is questionable.

Indeed, there’s a veteran striker who, having once led the line at the Emirates, has started the season even stronger than Arteta’s new focal frontman.

The former Arsenal ST outperforming Gyokeres

Gyokeres isn’t exactly a spring chicken, but then Arsenal have signed strikers of a more mature status in the past – and to an emphatic effect at that.

Just take a look at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January 2018 and scored 92 goals across just 163 matches for the Gunners, assisting 21 strikes too.

The Gabonese goalscorer might have left the club somewhat unceremoniously, but he left his mark on Arteta’s reign, having manufactured the Spaniard’s sole slice of silverware, notching four goals in the late stages of the 2019/20 FA Cup.

Indeed, with Arteta only months into his tenure at the Emirates helm, Aubameyang rose to the occasion in the semi-final at Wembley and scored a brace to down Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Despite arriving at the season’s midpoint in 2019/20, Aubameyang hit the ground running in the Premier League, lashing home ten goals from 13 matches before hitting consecutive 22-goal campaigns in the English top flight.

He was 28 when he first arrived at the north London outfit, and has led a storied career in the years since leaving. In fact, plying his trade for Marseille this term, the now 36-year-old Aubameyang has posted four goals and three assists from seven games in all competitions this year.

Quite remarkably, he’s outperforming a positional rival in Gyokeres, who is nearly nine years his junior and plundered 97 goals across two campaigns in Portugal, including a hat-trick over Man City in the Champions League last year.

When looking at Arsenal’s top goalscorers in the Premier League, year by year, since Aubameyang last played a successful season at the club, it’s clear to see that supporters and critics have been on the money when noting a lack of quality in the final third has been hamstringing an otherwise top-level attacking team.

25/26

Viktor Gyokeres

3

24/25

Kai Havertz

9

23/24

Bukayo Saka

16

22/23

Martin Odegaard

15

21/22

Bukayo Saka

11

20/21

Alexandre Lacazette

13

19/20

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

22

With three goals from his first seven Premier League appearances, it hasn’t been an abject start by any stretch. But Gyokeres has left something to be desired with his performances, for sure, having missed four big chances and averaged under six passes per game at a completion rate of 56%.

Three goals may be under the belt in the English top flight, but Gyokeres still needs to find another gear if he is to rival and surpass Aubameyang as the club’s finest centre-forward in so many years.

Whether he crosses that 22-goal threshold this term is open to question, but Arteta will no doubt expect more from his expensive summer signing, especially when looking at Aubameyang, and how he is still utilising his movement and positioning to score goals with a consistency and ferocity that belies his age.

Sky Sports journalist Dougie Critchley has marvelled at how “one the best finishers of the last 15 years” is still striking true on the big stage.

And given that Aubameyang is still outperforming the Swede for Marseille this season, the argument lingers concerning Gyokeres’ suitability for a side looking every bit the title-challenging force that they have been expected to perform as over the past few years.

Not Dowman: Arteta has a Saka & Odegaard hybrid in "phenomenal" Arsenal ace

The outrageous talent is like Saka and Odegaard and could be Arteta’s next Arsenal superstar.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 11, 2025

John Turner led an outstanding Hampshire Hawks bowling performance to set up a third straight victory to start their Men’s Vitality Blast campaign.Turner picked up three wickets before Chris Wood, Scott Currie and Benny Howell all snaffled two at under five runs an over to hold defending champions Gloucestershire to 119. Opener Toby Albert, on the back of 54 and 28 not out, dominated the chase with a personal best 73 as Hawks strode to the winning line with 30 balls to spare.Not since 2017 have Hampshire won their first three matches in a Blast season, while Gloucestershire have still never won a T20 match at Utilita Bowl.On the same pitch which produced over 700 runs in the double-header last week, Gloucestershire chose to set a target but never got to grips with the conditions. Plays and misses were more regular than seeing the ball come off the middle of the bat, especially in the powerplay – which returned just 37 runs and saw Turner dismiss Miles Hammond and Cam Bancroft, the latter to a stunning catch at short fine by James Fuller.Ollie Price was the only batter to pass 20, albeit scratchily, as the allrounder struggled to find anyone to form a partnership in his 42.For the visitor’s batting woes, the Hawks were sublime with the ball. They allowed just nine fours and a single six in the entire innings and applied constant pressure.Turner added one to his powerplay tally to return 3 for 28, Currie was unhittable for a second night in a row for his 2 for 19, while wily duo Wood and Howell were also cheap for their two scalps. The fielding was also exemplary. All 10 wickets were caught; four by Howell in the covers, which was Hampshire’s joint highest in the Blast.Chasing 119, Albert scooped Ajeet Singh Dale over the ropes in the second over. He copied and pasted the shot in the fifth over as Hawks found more successful ways to get out of moments of slow scoring.The second of the sixes came in a 20-run over, which eliminated any nerves in the chase.Albert had a third six split over the ropes on 29 before also being put down at mid-off next ball. But Jack Taylor didn’t make the same mistake when he held on to James Vince at extra cover.Tom Prest didn’t make the most of getting a life dropped at extra cover, hammering the ball to deep square. But Albert refused to allow things to wobble controllably. He reached his fifth T20 half-century with his fourth maximum, and even though Joe Weatherley edged behind, Albert strode past his previous T20 high of 66.There was still time for a huge Dewald Brevis six before Albert closed the game out with a pulled four.

Lancashire 264 and 12 for 3 (Holland 2-6, van Beek 1-10) trail Leicestershire 491 for 8 dec (Handscomb 142*, Rehan 100, Turner 2-44) by 212 runsRehan Ahmed and Peter Handscomb both made centuries as Leicestershire tightened their grip on the third day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Emirates Old Trafford.Replying to the Lancashire’s 263, the visitors made 491 for 8 declared, giving them a lead of 228, with Handscomb unbeaten on 142. Left with eight overs to survive, Lancashire ended the day on 16 for 3, Keaton Jennings having been bowled between bat and pad for a second-ball duck by Ian Holland, who also had nightwatchman Anderson Phillip lbw for two.The home side’s utter misery was completed when Michael Jones was bowled for four by a ball from Logan van Beek that kept lowSo, for the second time in two games on this ground, Lancashire must bat out the final day for a draw having been outplayed by their opponents. Their supporters might be hoping Monday’s weather forecast is correct.In the first 16 overs of the morning, Ahmed and Holland, Leicestershire’s overnight pair, scored 68 runs and displayed almost complete command of the Lancashire attack. The climax of this period of play came when Ahmed reached his hundred, the second of his first-class career, off 147 balls with 14 fours.However, two balls later, the centurion was caught at silly mid-off by Josh Bohannon off Tom Hartley for exactly 100 and this ushered in the second half of the session in which the visitors managed only 54 runs in 18 overs for the loss of Holland, who was caught at mid-on by Saqib Mahmood for 35 when he miscued a pull off John Turner.That wicket fell just three overs after that of Ahmed. and the new batter Lewis Hill and Handscomb rebuilt the innings with some cautious strokes. Nevertheless, the fourth-wicket pair displayed greater aggression towards the end of the session, most notably when Hill took ten runs off three balls from George Balderson, and that trend was maintained deep into the afternoon.The hundred partnership came up and Hill reached his fifty in 91 balls and 115 minutes. Lancashire took the new ball and Handscomb got to his half-century in three balls more having taken nine minutes longer.The pair had extended their partnership to 130 before two wickets fell in three overs. Hill skied a pull to Michael Jones at midwicket off Balderson and departed for 64 and then Louis Kimber was bowled for eight when trying to hit all round a ball from Turner. That left Leicestershire on 331 for 5 but Handscomb and Ben Cox increased the run rate after tea and took their side to the verge of a fourth bonus point with a sixth-wicket stand of 66.Handscomb reached the 27th century of his career off 170 balls, having hit ten fours, before Cox holed out on the deep square leg boundary for 31, Luke Wells taking the catch to give Mahmood his second wicket of the innings.That success brought Lancashire their third bonus point of the match but Leicestershire collected their seventh with 11 balls to spare, van Beek nudging the single that took his side past 400. The visitors’ acceleration continued deep into the evening session as wickets were traded for runs.Van Beek made 29 before he was bowled by Wells and Ben Green five before he was castled by Hartley, who finished with 2 for 151 off 44 overs, the most he has bowled in any game. Turner took 2 for 44 and Mahmood 2 for 99.Leicestershire’s total is their highest at Old Trafford and only two short of the most they have ever scored against Lancashire

أدلى المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة، هانز فليك، بتصريحات عقب فوزهم الكبير في مباراة اليوم على أولمبياكوس، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2025/26.

واستضاف ملعب “مونتجويك” مباراة فريقي برشلونة وأولمبياكوس، في الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري من دوري أبطال أوروبا، حيث حقق البرسا فوزًا بستة أهداف مقابل هدف.

وقال فليك، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “أنا سعيد للغاية، واجهنا بعض المشاكل في بداية المباراة ولكننا استحقينا الفوز، كل هدف وكل فوز مهم في تلك المرحلة”.

وأضاف: “فيرمين لوبيز؟ إنه يسجل ويركض، لاعب متكامل، كان أدائه مذهلًا، 3 أهداف، أول أهدافه كان مهمًا لنا، منحنا الثقة، إنه يمتلك كل شئ، لاعب ديناميكي وسريع”.

وفيما يخص شكوى مدرب أولمبياكوس من التحكيم، خاصة فيما يتعلق بطرد لاعبهم وحصول برشلونة على ضربة جزاء، قال: “ليست مشكلتي، أرى الأمور بشكل مختلف، ولكنني لن أتحدث وأتجادل عن هذا الشأن”.

وعن مباراة الكلاسيكو يوم الأحد المقبل ضد ريال مدريد على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، قال فليك: “أول شئ هو فوزنا اليوم، هو الأهم، وهذا من شأنه أن يمنحنا الثقة لتلك المباراة، إنها مباراة رائعة، ليس لدينا وقت نضيعه، سنتعافى”.

Rio Ngumoha is the talk of the town after scoring a last-gasp winner for Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Monday night, thus preserving Arne Slot’s flawless start to the Premier League campaign.

‘Flawless’ perhaps conveys the wrong mood. Liverpool have been pressed against the ropes in each of their opening league fixtures this season, yet they have snatched victory against Bournemouth at Anfield and Newcastle United on Tyneside.

It wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that Slot’s side are tactically imbalanced at the moment, with the thrilling addition of British-record playmaker Florian Wirtz seeming to distort the team’s balance, and the defensive fragility of Ibrahima Konate and much change further providing Slot with food for thought.

And so talks are ongoing for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, with hope that he will sign before deadline day. Perhaps the 25-year-old’s arrival would add depth and another dimension at the rear to launch Liverpool back into a smoother rhythm.

However, there’s another top target who could. Indeed, Alexander Isak’s potential move to Merseyside remains one of the biggest stories as the market winds down.

The latest on Isak to Liverpool

Liverpool’s bid for Newcastle United striker Isak is going down to the wire, with the Magpies still yet to sign one centre-forward this summer – let alone two.

The Sweden international has made it perfectly clear he has no intention of staying at St. James’ Park beyond the transfer window (though how much power he has over that is another matter), but Liverpool will not follow up their rejected £110m offer from the start of August without encouragement from the Toon.

A PIF delegation extended an olive branch to the 25-year-old after Liverpool’s dramatic victory on Monday, but Isak has doubled down on his stance.

The ball, frustratingly, is in Newcastle’s court, for they cannot reasonably cash in on their talisman if they do not find and sign a replacement (or two).

With that in mind, FSG have identified the perfect alternative, and he might even prove to be a better signing for Slot’s side.

Liverpool ready D-day bid for Isak alternative

If Liverpool do fail in their protracted bid to sign Isak, sporting director Richard Hughes won’t turn to an alternative centre-forward.

Transfer Focus

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

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That’s according to GIVEMESPORT. The publication have revealed that Liverpool are ready to make a deadline-day swoop for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo in the event that they miss out on Isak.

Rodrygo has been anticipated to leave Real this summer after struggles last season and signs of a diminished role under Xabi Alonso’s wing. Even with the La Liga giants open to the Brazilian’s departure, he has been priced at £76m.

Arsenal and Manchester City have shown interest of their own this summer, but the Gunners have signed Eberechi Eze this week and Pep Guardiola’s outfit look set to bar Savinho’s move to Tottenham Hotspur, thus jeopardising their move for Rodrygo.

What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich this summer, but Cody Gakpo has started the season strongly, scoring against Bournemouth and notching two assists at Newcastle. Ngumoha’s incredible emergence eases the need for a wide forward further.

But Rodrygo is a special player, and there’s no doubt that Liverpool could do with a little bit more to complete their frontline.

Given that the 24-year-old, who can play on both wings and as a frontman, managed to score 14 goals and provide 11 assists across all competitions last year, even though in a rut, Liverpool could strike gold in bringing him over.

And considering that he would cost less than Isak, maybe Rodrygo would even prove the better signing to make.

Isak is one of the best strikers in the world, and last year he scored 27 goals across all competitions as Newcastle qualified for the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup, with Isak scoring as Newcastle beat Liverpool at Wembley.

But Madrid’s tenacious wide forward has been remarked to be a “world-class superstar” by his former teammate Luka Modric, and boasts a wide-ranging skill set that appears custom-built for a top role in the Premier League.

Rodrygo’s clinical output over the past year has left plenty to be desired, no doubt about it, but there would be confidence that Slot could give rise to the £207k-per-week talent’s prolific side, while harnessing that ever-present underlying energy and application.

Rodrygo vs Isak (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Rodrygo

Isak

Goals

0.32

0.80

Assists

0.20

0.17

Shots taken

2.54

3.14

Shot-creating actions

4.75

3.07

Pass completion

85.8%

75.8%

Touches (att pen)

5.88

6.15

Progressive passes

4.72

3.00

Progressive carries

5.22

2.73

Successful take-ons

2.19

1.43

Data via FBref

Isak and Rodrygo, two forwards of varying position and role, aren’t comparable in the strictest sense, but looking at their data when lined against one another underscores the reasoning behind a Liverpool bid for the latter.

To put it simply, Liverpool have hit the jackpot on Hugo Ekitike, whose £79m journey from Eintracht Frankfurt to Anfield has already yielded three goals and an assist from three matches. Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher has hailed the Frenchman’s “brilliant start”, and there are those who question the need for a record-breaking move for Isak after such an exciting addition.

Ekitike, 23, looks a real sensation in the making, and though it would be unfair to expect him to maintain his present output across the long and circuitous campaign, who can deny him his potential?

Might Isak inhibit that growth? Might the addition of the Scandinavian superstar threaten to disrupt the progress of a rising talent who has already found a degree of fluency in England that avoids so many foreign hopefuls as they wade in and look to make their name.

Rodrygo, however, could play across the frontline and thus add depth without disrupting the progress being forged at Anfield right now.

Make no mistake, Isak would be an incredible signing for Liverpool, but Rodrygo, cheaper and more positionally dynamic, is a world-class player himself, and he knows how to shape a team aiming for the top.

Related Bad news for Wirtz: Liverpool "ready to bid" for £120k-per-week "machine"

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Posts 4 ByJoe Nuttall Aug 28, 2025

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

“We are hopeful that it will help our women’s game progress” – BCB director Nazmul Abedeen Fahim•ACC

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.

Manchester United are set to go all out in their pursuit of a midfield general and could now be set to raid one of Europe’s top-five leagues to land their man, according to a report.

Manchester United pull out of Carlos Baleba deal

In recent days, Carlos Baleba had become Manchester United’s main target as Ruben Amorim looks to find someone to set the tone in the engine room, but the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder would cost a club record fee and INEOS have since pulled out of a deal, as per David Ornstein.

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The Cameroon international has remained in training with the Seagulls throughout the short saga and his boss Fabian Hurzeler is ‘very confident’ he will stay on the South Coast, with Brighton’s lofty 9-digit valuation seemingly turning away United’s advances, at least for this summer.

While that pursuit looks to have faded away, Manchester United also have Sevilla star Lucien Agoume on their radar as they look to build a side worthy of competing against the Premier League elite.

To raise financial capital, sales may also be necessary at Old Trafford to generate funds to sanction incomings. In unusual fashion, there is even talk that Jadon Sancho could be used as a makeweight to land Baleba before the close of play.

Lessons appear to be learned from Manuel Ugarte’s frustrations since moving to the Red Devils. There is still a major appetite for arrivals at the club, but INEOS are adopting a policy of recruiting the best in class to help their mission.

Despite being some way below their former glories, Manchester United are a club that will always hold appeal to the world’s finest stars, and they could now be about to use that charm in their quest to bring in an all-action midfielder who could be an alternative to Baleba.

Manchester United turn attention to Mikel Jauregizar

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have identified Athletic Club midfielder Mikel Jauregizar as a target. The Spain international is valued due to his versatile nature and ability to cover ground, which led Ben Mattinson to label him “Mr Consistent” last season after a return of three goals and three assists in 48 appearances across all competitions.

Manchester United now in contact to sign £30m+ Adidas-sponsored defender

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Of course, he scored a stunner at Old Trafford as his side lost 7-1 on aggregate in the Europa League semi-final. However, his contribution to the tie will definitely be remembered by supporters.

Agoume is mentioned again, and so is long-term Manchester United target Javi Guerra, illustrating that INEOS are putting in the leg work to find an exciting midfield addition for Amorim.

After a dreadful campaign last term, exciting times are on the horizon at Old Trafford and there is plenty of anticipation over who could be set to sign on the dotted line.

Jaiswal and Jayasuriya were the other big movers up the Test tables, while Gurbaz and Rashid rose on the ODI tables

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Sep-2024Rishabh Pant has re-entered the ICC Test batting rankings at No. 6, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prabath Jayasuriya were the other big movers up that table – while Rohit Sharma has slid down – following the Test matches in Chennai and Galle. Afghanistan’s white-ball stars, meanwhile, have moved up quite dramatically on the ODI tables, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan making waves. Travis Head, too, has made a jump up the table.Pant, playing Test cricket after a gap of close to two years – the first time since a car crash threatened to end his career – struck 39 and 109 (off just 128 balls) in India’s 280-run win over Bangladesh in their first Test in Chennai. That put Pant straight back into sixth place with 731 rating points. Jaiswal, who was in sixth place prior to the latest update, moved up to fifth courtesy his 56 in India’s first innings, which gave him 751 points.Joe Root is well ahead of the pack on that list, with 899 points, with Kane Williamson, who scored 55 and 30 in New Zealand’s 63-run loss in the first Test in Galle, in second place with 852 points. Daryl Mitchell (760 points) and Steven Smith (757 points) held on to their spots above Jaiswal.Full rankings tables

Click here for the full team rankings

Click here for the full player rankings

But Rohit, who returned 6 and 5 in Chennai, falling to pace in both innings, moved down quite sharply, going from No. 5 to No. 10, just four rating points above Babar Azam at No. 11.Virat Kohli also went down five spots, to No. 12, following scores of 6 and 17, while Shubman Gill, who scored 119 not out in the second innings against Bangladesh, moved up five places to 14th.The big mover in the bowling rankings was Jayasuriya, whose 4 for 136 and 5 for 68 earned him the Player-of-the-Match award in Galle. Jayasuriya climbed five positions to No. 8.Australians and Indians dominate that table. R Ashwin (0 for 29 and 6 for 88 in Chennai) is No. 1, followed by Jasprit Bumrah (4 for 50 and 1 for 24) at No. 2. After Bumrah, there’s Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada before another Indian, Ravindra Jadeja (2 for 19 and 3 for 58) slots in at sixth, with Nathan Lyon at No. 7.Kamindu Mendis’ 114 in the first innings against New Zealand, meanwhile, took him up three spots to 16th on the batters’ list.ESPNcricinfo LtdGurbaz and Head move up ODI batters’ ladderGurbaz fell for a duck in the first ODI against South Africa in Sharjah, but struck back, hitting 105 in 110 balls and 89 in 94 balls in the next two games as Afghanistan won the series 2-1. That made him the first from his country to get into the top ten among ODI batters, putting him in eighth place – a rise of ten spots.Head smashed 154 not out in 129 balls in the first ODI against England – in a match where he also returned 2 for 34 with the ball – to go up seven spots to No. 9.In that Afghanistan vs South Africa series, Rashid was the other big contributor for his team. He picked up seven wickets across Afghanistan’s two wins over South Africa, going up a whopping eight spots on the bowlers’ table to No. 3, only behind Keshav Maharaj and Adam Zampa.

Pakistan women’s team have not received daily allowances during their ongoing training camp in Multan, which started on September 1. The women’s squad, which is at the camp ahead of Pakistan’s three T20I matches against South Africa next week, will receive allowances once the series starts.But the decision marks a change in policy from how the allowance structure was determined at previous camps, and is also in contrast to how it is handled for the men’s national team.In the past, ESPNcricinfo understands that the women’s team received modest daily allowances at training camps. This time, however, the PCB is providing accommodation as well as three meals to the members at the camp; at previous camps, three daily meals were not provided. A PCB official told ESPNcricinfo the board’s policy dictated that if three meals a day and hotel accommodation were made available, no daily allowances over and above that would be provided.Related

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In theory, that remains true for the men’s side, too, but is rarely, if ever, put into practice. During the most recent men’s training camp, held ahead of Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh, the players were offered daily allowances over and above the accommodation and any food provided. However, three free full meals were not made available free of cost, with the allowances considered compensation in lieu of that. At previous camps over the years, the men’s side have almost always been awarded daily allowances, often with up to two meals freely available.It is not clear why the change in meal and allowance structure has kicked in for the women’s side, which has effectively seen a reduction in the recompense offered at training camps. At the Pakistan women’s camp in early April in Karachi, before the start of their white-ball home series against the West Indies, three full meals as well as some monetary daily allowances were provided to all participants. Thereafter, though, the PCB has deemed offering financial recompense surplus to requirements if three full meals are being provided.ESPNcricinfo understands the change in policy has left a number of the women’s players disappointed, with some believing being away from home for a camp merits beyond merely meeting the basic daily needs of lodging and food. There were hopes this would improve at future camps, with the women’s side gearing up for the women’s T20 World Cup, to be held next month.The situation arises at a time when the PCB’s scale of expenditure in other avenues of the game is at an all-time high, particularly in the form of stadium upgrades believed to cost the PCB tens of billions of rupees. The Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is being rebuilt almost from scratch, with the National Stadium in Karachi also seeing a significant overhaul. There is some construction work due at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium too, as the PCB prepare to host the Champions Trophy in 2025, the first ICC event they are scheduled to host in nearly three decades.Meanwhile, the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup, the domestic 50-over competition, has also seen a large financial outlay. The tournament will see the PCB offer prize money of around PKR 49 million, nearly ten times what was on offer last year, and almost half of what the PSL made available earlier this year. The mentors for the five sides – all former cricketers – are also being paid huge salaries – approximately PKR 5 million per month in three-year deals that will, all told, cost the PCB around PKR 900 million in mentor salary payments.The women’s central and domestic contracts are also yet to be finalised and announced. Last year, 19 women were awarded central contracts from August 1 2023, due to run till June 30, 2025. However, they were to be assessed at the end of the first 12 months, with six further weeks having passed since that assessment date, with any revisions to the contracts still pending. The men’s central contracts, too, are well past their assessment date, and though they are expected imminently, there is no official word yet on when any changes will be announced.

Chelsea secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup following an extra-time victory over Benfica at the weekend.

Reece James looked like he had powered the Blues into the next round, but a penalty from Ángel Di María sent the clash into an extra 30 minutes.

The game was suspended for a couple of hours, just minutes from the final whistle, due to a storm threat, but Chelsea finally won the clash 4-1.

It may have taken 4 hours and 39 minutes, but Enzo Maresca’s side now face off against PSG for a spot in the semi-final.

Despite the focus being on the tournament and progressing as far as possible, the manager is still keen on bolstering his squad via the transfer market.

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Reports coming from the Athletic claim that the Blues have reached an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion regarding a move for Joao Pedro.

The proposed deal looks set to be in excess of £50m and the Brazilian has agreed personal terms with the club.

With a medical booked in early for next week, it appears as though Maresca is closing in on signing another key target. Just what will Pedro offer the Blues?

Why Chelsea want to sign Joao Pedro

Maresca is looking to sell both Christopher Nkunku and João Félix this summer, with both players struggling for regular gametime last season.

Nkunku may have scored against Benfica, but with clubs such as Manchester United showing some interest in the Frenchman, it looks as though he might be sold.

Felix played just 20 times for Maresca last season, scoring seven times, but the Portuguese star spent the second half of the campaign out on loan at AC Milan.

Pedro’s arrival suggests one, or perhaps both, will soon be departing Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.

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The Brighton star is versatile, being able to operate as a centre-forward, second striker or even out wide on the left flank.

Last term, he typically operated in an advanced role centrally, scoring ten goals for the Seagulls and registering seven assists, proving he is adept in front of goal and at creating opportunities for his teammates.

Such were his performances, the 23-year-old ranks highly among his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues.

Indeed, not only does the forward rank in the top 12% for assists (0.28) per 90, but he also ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions (3.33) and successful take-ons (1.34) per 90.

Furthermore, Pedro’s ability to get the ball into dangerous areas is evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes (3.6) and in the top 3% for progressive carries (3.05) per 90, indicating that he will offer a lot of attacking qualities for the Blues next term.

It won’t be the only area of the squad that the Italian will be keen on strengthening, however, especially with the added demands of Champions League football next term.

As such, it’s certainly worth Chelsea bringing in a defender or two this summer.

Chelsea's search for a defender

Last season, the club conceded a total of 59 goals across all competitions from 57 matches, and this record will be something Maresca aims to improve next term.

Over the same period, Chelsea scored 120 goals. This suggests that bolstering the defence is surely a bigger priority than adding to the forward line, notably Joao Pedro.

It looks as though the Blues are keen on a defender who played against them just last weekend – Antonio Silva.

Journalist Simon Phillips stated via his Substack that the Blues have been impressed with the youngster, saying:

“Chelsea have tried and made approaches and checks on a number of potential new centre back names this summer so far and still have more to look at and in to. Chelsea have been scouting Antonio Silva of Benfica all season and already have him added to our transfer shortlist alongside his team mate, Tomas Araujo.

“But Chelsea are looking for an out and out centre back and attentions have again turned to the 21-year-old Portuguese international who has just two-years remaining on his contract.”

The centre-back is valued at €32m (£27m) according to Transfermarkt, but Benfica will be looking for a much higher fee than that to sanction a sale considering his release clause stands at around £87m.

Given their defensive issues last term, Silva would be a better signing than Pedro, that’s for sure.

Why Chelsea must sign Antonio Silva

The 21-year-old played over 40 times last season, including all four games at the Club World Cup for Benfica.

At the tournament, Silva averaged a 92% pass success rate, while winning a staggering 80% of his total duels contested, made 2.3 tackles per game and lost possession just 4.3 times per match in the States.

These performances have attracted plenty of attention, and there is no doubt that Silva is only going to get better and better.

Accurate passes

52.3

Tackles

1.5

Total duels won

4.5

Possession lost

7.7

Clearances

4.3

Balls recovered

4

After he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with a goal against Juventus in the Champions League back in 2022, Jamie Carragher claimed the defender was “going to be a superstar” and his upwards trajectory certainly suggests so.

When compared to his peers in the Champions League last season, Silva ranked in the top 1% for clearances (7.7) per 90, while also ranking in the top 16% for aerials won (2.36) and in the top 9% for touches in the defensive penalty area (12.91) per 90.

An impressive array of statistics indeed, and considering his ceiling is extraordinarily high, Maresca must make signing Silva a key priority this summer.

Pedro will certainly add plenty of dynamism to the club’s attacking department, but it is at the heart of the defence where the real improvements are required given the problems Maresca’s men suffered last term.

As such, spending whatever it takes to bring Silva from Benfica to the Premier League must be the next move BlueCo are planning.

If he lands his signature, Silva will almost certainly be a better signing than Pedro.

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