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Liverpool’s summer transfer window is beginning to form a coherent picture, with FSG acting quickly to tidy up the defensive flanks and get the mammoth deal for Florian Wirtz over the line.

The Bayer Leverkusen superstar gave curious Liverpool supporters a taste of his quality during Germany’s Nations League semi-final tie against Portugal this week, scoring during the 2-1 loss.

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His intelligence, tenacity and movement underscored the playmaker’s ability, having been utterly fantastic during his time in Leverkusen’s squad, winning the 2023/24 Bundesliga Player of the Year after triumphing as an invincible before claiming more Man of the Match awards than any other player across this term’s Champions League campaign.

We’re a whisker away from a positive development in Liverpool’s bid to secure a marquee deal, but it might be a case of one out, one in.

While the Wirtz deal won’t have any bearing on the potential sale of Luis Diaz, the Colombian’s departure is something to consider.

The latest on Luis Diaz's future

On Thursday, Liverpool rejected an approach from Barcelona for forward Diaz, who scored 17 goals and laid on eight assists for Slot’s side this year.

The 28-year-old, who is entering the penultimate year of his contract, will only be allowed to leave if Liverpool are offered a significant sum; the Saudi Pro League have known admirers of the South American talent.

Though the thought of Diaz and Wirtz combining in a new-look Liverpool frontline is exciting, there may well be an opportunity to secure a new, younger signature.

FSG’s no-sell stance is laced with the undertow of an openness, should the right offer be tabled.

Especially when talks have been held for an almighty replacement on the left flank.

Liverpool hold talks for marquee signing

According to transfer insider Ben Jacobs, Liverpool held discussions concerning Real Madrid’s Rodrygo last month, their intrigue persisting after initially drawing him up as a Mohamed Salah successor, should the Egyptian have left this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

Arsenal would be Anfield’s most notable rival in the race, and though the Gunners have a vested interest, they have not yet launched an official bid for the Brazil forward.

Rodrygo, 24, has become disillusioned with life at Santiago Bernabeu, frustrated to be perceived to be in the shadow of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

For their part, Real no longer consider Rodrygo untouchable, but would only cash in if their €100m (about £84m) valuation was met.

What Rodrygo would bring to Liverpool

While the jury will remain out for a little while as Xabi Alonso’s plans at Real Madrid begin to shape up, it’s difficult to imagine the Spanish tactician will remove Vini Jr. from his left-sided berth.

This could lead Rodrygo to make the eventual decision to leave Los Blancos, having featured 267 times, posting 118 goal contributions, for the club since signing from Santos for a £39.5m fee when he was just 18.

However, most of those outings have come off the right wing, whereas the right-footed forward prefers the alternate side as he feels it is here he reaches his zenith.

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If the 2024/25 campaign has any say on the matter, it certainly looks like this is the case, which is why Liverpool could hit the jackpot in bringing Rodrygo over as Diaz’s heir.

Especially when considering the partnership that could be forged with Wirtz, the two starring in the Champions League and driving Anfield through the domestic campaign.

Wirtz brings so much to the game, astounding in his creative output and indeed willingness to take on his man and drive the ball into the danger area himself.

The German international ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga this season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

For a gifted and technically crisp winger in Rodrygo, this could be a brilliant way to add intensity and fluency to an already thriving Liverpool frontline. Rodrygo, indeed, is a natural-born goalscorer, with his finishing once described as being “terrifyingly good” by journalist Sam Tighe.

Though he only managed to score six goals in La Liga this season, the “special” Rodrygo, as he has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti, only missed one big chance, as per Sofascore, highlighting the underlying data that Wirtz’s prowess would only enhance at Liverpool. Wirtz, in fact, created 17 big chances and supplied 12 assists in the Bundesliga this term despite only starting 25 matches.

Whether Liverpool act on their interest and launch a big-money bid for the star remains to be seen, but there’s no question he would be an incredible addition to one of the best teams in the world.

For now, we will have to wait and see whether FSG accelerate their intrigue in the superstar, but with Arsenal keen and yet to show their hand in the transfer market, it would certainly help if sporting director Richard Hughes could draw rumours over Diaz’s future to a close.

If a suitable offer does arrive, Rodrygo might just follow Wirtz through the Anfield gates, consolidating Slot’s team as a goliath of the modern European game – here to stay.

Caicedo revenge: Liverpool can hijack Chelsea move for "England's best LW"

Liverpool winger Luis Diaz faces an uncertain future with firm interest in his signature.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 5, 2025

Despite already reaching a verbal agreement to sign Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha, Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an approach to sign another Brazilian ace.

Nottingham Forest set to sign Botafogo trio

Evangelos Marinakis has wasted no time before turning towards the South American market yet again at the City Ground. The Greek owner has had previous success when welcoming the likes of Murillo and may have completed another act of genius by reaching an agreement to sign the aforementioned Botafogo trio.

Jesus particularly stands out among the three. The impressive striker could quickly become the air to Chris Wood’s striker throne at the City Ground, having scored eight goals in Brazil throughout the 2024/25 campaign after netting 25 in all competitions in the season prior at both Botafogo and at Shabab Al-Ahli Club.

Meanwhile, if Nottingham Forest fans needed any further introduction to Jesus and Cunha, then one glimpse at the Club World Cup should have given them exactly that. Both players scored in Botafogo’s 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders, whilst Cuiabano also featured from the bench.

All signs point towards excellent business by Nottingham Forest, but the Tricky Trees are not done there. With European football to look forward to next season, those at the City Ground are in their strongest position for a long time to attract some top talents.

It’s not something that Marinakis is keen to waste, either. With three Brazilian talents already on the way, Forest have also been linked with moves for the likes of Yoanne Wissa. The Brentford forward was the subject of interest from the City Ground in January and now that interest has reportedly been reignited.

Meanwhile, Forest aren’t done in South America either amid reports that they’ve made an approach to sign a fourth Brazilian talent this summer.

Nottingham Forest make Romulo Cardoso approach

According to GE Globo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign Romulo Cardoso from Goztepe this summer. The impressive forward is still just 23 years old and would be arriving off the back of an excellent campaign which saw him score 17 goals and create another 13 in Turkey.

That said, Forest aren’t alone in the race to sign the forward. Joining them, RB Leipzig and Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are also reportedly interested in signing Romulo this summer. The Bundesliga club will become a particular threat if they are forced to replace Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko in the coming months.

Nottingham Forest negotiations to sign "superb" ace down to just £4m difference

Forest are in talks over signing a new attacker, but the clubs remain apart in their valuation.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 16, 2025

Whether Forest’s growing Brazilian contingent helps to convince the clinical goalscorer will be interesting to see too. The City Ground is quickly becoming the place to be for South American stars on the rise and Romulo could become the latest to make his way to the Midlands.

With contact already made and a number of clubs chasing his signature, Romulo has arguably the biggest decision of his career to make so far this summer.

Birmingham City’s move for a “technical” player is now as much as “95%” complete, according to a positive update from journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto.

Who do Birmingham want to sign?

The Blues know the importance of building on their League One title win and cementing their place in the Championship next season, with new signings required to take Chris Davies’ side to the next level, perhaps following Ipswich’s lead after their back to back promotions.

The financial influence of Tom Wagner and Tom Brady has aided Birmingham greatly in recent years, and supporters are understandably excited to see what the next step will be at the club this summer.

Luton Town centre-back Teden Mengi has been linked with a move to St Andrews in recent days, following a solid 2024/25 season from the former Manchester United player that saw him average 3.9 clearances per game across 20 Championship appearances.

Meanwhile, NEC winger Sontje Hansen has also been mentioned as an exciting target for Birmingham in the summer window, with the 23-year-old representing the Netherlands across five different youth age groups, winning a combined tally of 46 caps. Now, it looks like one player is very close to securing a move to the Midlands.

Birmingham's move for midfielder "95%" done

Speaking on his YouTube channel [via Sport Witness], Sousa-Pinto claimed that midfielder Kanya Fujimoto’s move to Birmingham from Gil Vicente is nearly complete, with the Japanese set to join on a free transfer.

“I’m talking about Kanya Fujimoto, the midfielder whose contract with Gil Vicente ended and who is now a free agent and, as far as I can tell, 90%, 95%, has been agreed with Birmingham City. The clock is still ticking to seal the deal. We’ll have to keep waiting, but the feeling has been very positive for a few weeks now.

“The feeling is still very positive for the transfer to be completed, but we’re still taking it one step at a time until we can close this deal, and Kanya Fujimoto can then join the Championship team as a free agent, once again after his contract with Gil Vicente ended.”

This is great news for anyone of a Birmingham persuasion, with Fujimoto a player who has now proven himself at a high level, making 156 appearances in the Primeira Liga.

The 25-year-old has scored 12 goals and registered 20 assists in Portugal’s top league, while analyst Ben Mattinson has hailed his “technical” quality.

Fujimoto has represented Japan in six age groups, further highlighting his pedigree, and he is a player who could be an instant hit for Birmingham, adding so much quality in midfield areas.

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The win was set up by the South Africa fast bowlers, who combined to stop Netherlands at 103 for 9

Shashank Kishore08-Jun-20242:46

Miller: I knew I had to finish the game

South Africa made heavy weather of a modest chase in New York before David Miller and Tristan Stubbs dug deep to save them from a third straight defeat at Netherlands’ hands at an ICC tournament.Miller and Stubbs added 65 for the fifth wicket to lift them from the pits of 12 for 4 on a pitch that didn’t play anywhere as badly as the scorecard suggested, even though there was enough in it for quick bowlers – 13 of the 15 wickets fell to them, while there were two run outs.As he walked out to bat, Miller might have had a flashback of Adelaide 2022, where his wicket, with 47 needed off 28 balls, shut the door on South Africa and gave Netherlands a 13-run win. On Saturday, Miller stayed the course and remained unbeaten on 59, flicking on his best six-hitting self in the penultimate over with South Africa needing 16 off 12.In the end, in a game where 209 runs were scored in 38.5 overs, South Africa won with enough to spare.Vivian Kingma struck twice in the powerplay•AFP/Getty ImagesThe South African meltdownQuinton de Kock was run out without facing a ball. Reeza Hendricks got a peach from Logan van Beek that angled in and straightened to hit the top of off. Vivian Kingma had the first of a double when he strangled Aiden Markram down leg to leave South Africa 3 for 3. And when Heinrich Klaasen’s rush of blood had him picking out Tim Pringle attempting a pull off Kingma, Netherlands dared to dream – or maybe just expected the expected, considering the recent results between the two sides at ICC events.Miller and Stubbs take overBoth Miller and Stubbs are instinctive batters who love taking the bowlers on. But the situation they walked out to was not for that sort of batting, it was a crisis. A mis-step could have meant curtains. So they chose caution, saw off the powerplay without any further damage, and hit only a further two boundaries until the ten-over mark to leave South Africa needing 72 off the last ten overs.Stubbs was on 9 off 21 at this point, struggling to force the pace, especially when the ball was dug in to the pitch. A hint of grip for the spinners also made it difficult for him to hit out. So when Bas de Leede came on in the 11th, Stubbs gave him the charge and enjoyed a massive slice of luck as a thick inside edge flew wide of the midwicket fielder.Miller, too, rode some luck. A big hit down the ground off left-arm spinner Pringle only just eluded the long-on fielder in the 12th over with South Africa still needing 57 off 50.Stubbs finally shrug off the pressure that had built around him with a hoick for six off Vikramjit Singh, and then launched van Beek down the ground three balls later to turn the tide South Africa’s way.David Miller and Tristan Stubbs put on a match-winning 65-run stand for the fifth wicket•ICC/Getty ImagesMiller lands the finishing blowsIt should have been a smooth ride from there, with South Africa needing 29 off 30. But there was another twist. First, Paul van Meekeren delivered a maiden over to Miller, and the pressure showed when Stubbs holed out to deep midwicket in the next, off Bas de Leede. Then, in the 18th, van Beek came back after being walloped for six by Miller to dismiss Marco Jansen.But, with South Africa needing 16 off 12, de Leede erred in line. Miller began the penultimate over by dispatching a half-tracker over fine leg, and then finished the game with a sequence of 2, 0, 4 and 6 – cue a roar and wild fist pumping.Miller had tamed the demons of Adelaide 2022.Sybrand Engelbrecht top-scored for Netherlands after walking out at a ricky time•ICC/Getty ImagesEngelbrecht props up NetherlandsSybrand Engelbrecht, who represented South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 and only recently made his Netherlands’ debut, top-scored with a 45-ball 40 on surface where the next best among the top seven was 12.At the toss, Netherlands were put in to bat seemingly because South Africa wanted to exploit the morning conditions, and had them tottering at 32 for 4. South Africa’s four-pronged pace attack, led by Marco Jansen, was breathing fire at that stage, with pace and bounce off the pitch for assistance.South Africa’s hostility didn’t end there, with Ottneil Baartman and Anrich Nortje ensuring there weren’t any freebies. This resulted in Netherlands attempting to manufacture strokes, like Scott Edwards did when he executed a reverse scoop for six, but they simply didn’t have enough.It came down to Englebrecht’s patient knock and his 54-run association with van Beek to get them into three figures. It would have been inadequate on most days, but Netherlands can give themselves a pat on the back for making a match out of it to keep Group D very open.

Everton manager David Moyes is aiming to build a side that will be able to secure a top-half finish in the Premier League in their first season at the club’s new stadium.

It is the start of a new era for the Merseyside outfit and what better way to commemorate it by emerging from their recent malaise and moving forward under Moyes.

Much will depend on the transfer business that the club manage to pull off this summer. So far, only Carlos Alcaraz has joined the Toffees. Even then, the South American starlet spent the last six months of the 2024/25 campaign on loan. Therefore, he is hardly a brand-new arrival.

A few days ago, it was reported that Everton were in talks to sign Fulham right-back Kenny Tete on a free transfer.

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Moyes is keen on bringing in another full-back, especially on the right side of the defence, and with Tete available for nothing, it is a move that makes perfect sense.

Another player who the club are targeting is Villarreal centre-forward Thierno Barry, who enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024/25.

Considering Everton scored just 42 goals throughout the Premier League last term, the lowest of any club outside the relegation zone, improving in the attacking department is a major priority for Moyes.

As such, signing Barry could turn into a solid piece of business, especially as he looks ready to take the next step in his career.

Why Everton must sign Thierno Barry

Last season, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Armando Broja netted just 13 goals between them, highlighting that this area in the squad needs to be vastly improved.

Barry could be the perfect solution for Moyes. Indeed, the Frenchman made a total of 41 appearances for the La Liga club last term, scoring 19 goals and registering four assists in the process.

He also shone across various metrics when compared to his positional peers in the Spanish top flight last season. Not only did the striker rank in the top 25% for non-penalty goals (0.39) per 90, but he also ranked in the top 27% for total shots (2.75) and in the top 17% for aerials won (3.84) per 90.

Although they might not be a spell-binding array of statistics, considering it was his debut season in Spain, it suggests that Barry is only going to get better and better as time goes on.

The striker has spent the previous few weeks representing France at the U21 European Championships. Across his five games at the competition, Barry has scored once, averaged two shots per game and created two big chances, despite averaging just 37 minutes per game for France.

His future looks bright indeed. Should he make the move to the Toffees, could he be a success on Merseyside? Only time will tell on that front.

Moyes will be keen to supplement the signing of Barry by adding further attacking talent this summer, especially those who can help make the French starlet even better.

Might he possibly be eyeing up a move for an Englishman who impressed in the Premier League last season?

Latest Everton transfer news

While Barry is the main attacking target, Moyes has also shown interest in Timothy Weah and James McAtee this summer already.

Transfer Focus

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

Both players would improve the club’s attacking options, without a shadow of a doubt, although they may cost the club a pretty penny.

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are now exploring a potential move for Ipswich Town attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson this summer.

Amid Ipswich’s relegation, several clubs, including the Toffees, Brentford and West Ham, are waiting to make a move for the player, who is valued at €28m (£24m) according to Football Transfers.

The Tractor Boys may have struggled last term, but Hutchinson was one of the few bright sparks, and it is likely he will depart.

Moyes must make sure he is at the front of the queue to sign the talented Englishman, especially as he could be a dream signing for Barry.

Why Omari Hutchinson could be a dream for Thierno Barry

Last season, Hutchinson played 31 Premier League games for Ipswich, scoring three goals and grabbing two assists.

While it wasn’t enough to prevent their relegation, he impressed in large spells, which is now leading to attention in the transfer market.

Aside from his goal contributions, Hutchinson also created six big chances, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with 1.6 dribbles per game. This is made even more impressive by the fact Ipswich averaged just 40% possession across their 38 league games last term.

It proves that when the Englishman had the ball, he was willing to make things happen for his teammates, indicating that he would be a dream signing for Barry.

Not only would the youngster create chances for the Frenchman, but he would also be able to consistently get into dangerous positions in the final third.

Labelled “dazzling” by Statman Dave in the Championship, he spent the early part of the summer helping England U21s reach the final of the European Championship, playing a key role in their success.

Hutchinson has started four of England’s five matches and, as well as grabbing an assist, he has also created three big chances, averages 1.8 key passes and succeeds with an impressive 2.2 dribbles per game at the tournament.

If England go on to defeat Germany in the final, it will largely be due to Hutchinson’s impressive performances.

Moyes will surely have one eye on the final this weekend, especially as the club have joined the list of potential suitors for his signature.

Getting a move for Barry over the line will be his priority firstly. But once this deal is signed, sealed and delivered, lining up Hutchinson will be on the agenda.

It all depends on the fee Ipswich demands, but if it is reasonable, the Toffees should be all over the move. That’s for sure.

Everton now confident in their bid to sign forward with £34m release clause

Everton are now ready to progress forward with a deal to sign a new striker, who wants the move.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

Chelsea need to shift players on amid their fine from UEFA for breaking FFP rules, and there are many different squad members who face the chopping block with no certainty over their long-term futures.

Romano: Chelsea now make contact with agent of "electric" £70m Spurs target

The Blues have made an approach for a forward, who is also being targeted by rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

ByDominic Lund Jul 7, 2025

The Blues have received a guaranteed fine from UEFA of around £27 million for not complying with “the football earnings rule, which was assessed for the first time in the 2024/25 season” (Ben Jacobs).

Cole Palmer

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Moises Caicedo

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Enzo Fernández

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Nicolas Jackson

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Noni Madueke

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via WhoScored

If Chelsea fail to comply with FFP over the next four seasons, they could get slapped with further penalties of up to £51.2 million (BBC) – putting more pressure on BlueCo to sell both their high earners and players deemed surplus to requirements by Enzo Maresca.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi are all up for sale, as per The Athletic, with Chelsea also actively looking to offload £325,000-per-week outcast Raheem Sterling.

Noni Madueke has agreed personal terms over a move to Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano), so a potential exit for him could happen fairly soon. As well as the England international, fellow first-teamers Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have also been linked with Stamford Bridge departures, especialluy after the arrivals of both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this window.

There is also the matter of Carney Chukwuemeka, who is now a Chelsea player once again following the conclusion of his Borussia Dortmund loan.

The 21-year-old midfielder joined Dortmund on loan in January, playing his last game for them against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, and their sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, has already confirmed the Bundesliga side’s intention to re-sign him.

Borussia Dortmund looking to re-sign Carney Chukwuemeka

Speaking to the media, Kehl admitted that Dortmund will hold discussions over Chukwuemeka in the next few days, and will attempt to keep the former Aston Villa prodigy in Germany after flashes of promise during his first six months.

“We will definitely have some more discussions in the next few days about his situation,” said Kehl.

“I think it was a good move from Carney to join us. Now let’s see how we manage everything. It won’t be easy, but we will try to keep him because he’s a very good player.

“It’s always easier to loan a player than to buy one, especially within Carney’s [price] range, but let’s see. We are not that far advanced [in talks] at the moment, but I can tell you that we are pretty close to the player, and he loves Dortmund.

“Everything else will be decided between Chelsea and us. That won’t be tomorrow. That won’t be on Tuesday. I think it will take some more days.”

Chelsea want as much as £40 million for Chukwuemeka, and it is unclear whether Dortmund can reach that high. He also reportedly earns around £100,000-per-week at Cobham, and with no future in the first team, Chelsea will be keen to trim that high salary off their books.

Chukwuemeka has been called a “clinical” player by France legend Marcel Desailly during his time in west London, but his three-year stay could soon be drawing to a close.

Jordan Cox’s absence through illness keenly felt as challengers slump to 145-run loss

ECB Reporters Network03-Jul-2024Tom Lawes was Surrey’s last-day hero with four for 26 as they bowled out Essex for 215 to complete a 145-run victory over their nearest rivals at the Kia Oval and increase their lead at the top of the Vitality County Championship table.Dean Elgar scored a typically defiant 60 but Surrey’s quicker bowlers chipped away relentlessly once morning rain had cleared, with 21-year-old tyro Lawes first taking two wickets in successive balls and then returning after tea to break further Essex resistance from Paul Walter and Michael Pepper.Surrey’s 20-point win, their sixth from nine Division One matches so far this season, was completed with 25.5 overs to spare and they remain on course for three championship titles in a row. In support of Lawes, Jordan Clark finished with three for 56 and Dan Worrall two for 71.Second-placed Essex, rightly, will be sore that they effectively had to play a vital top-of-table fixture with ten men due to the absence virtually throughout of Jordan Cox, who left the field early on day one feeling unwell. Cox has since had an operation to remove his appendix but ECB regulations allow a substitute only for concussion victims.Perhaps Cox’s full involvement might have made little difference, particularly on a well-grassed pitch that encouraged the seamers throughout, but the 23-year-old came into the game heading Essex’s championship batting averages with 763 runs at 69.36. Losing him to illness was unfortunate enough, but not be able to replace him with another batsman in such circumstances meant Surrey also had to take just 18 wickets overall, not 20.Resuming their second innings on 21 for two, Essex would have been aiming only for survival, rather than an improbable chasing down of a 361-run win target, and a two-hour bad weather interruption early in the day certainly helped their cause.Only 13 balls were bowled at the start, Essex moving quickly to 38 for two as Westley took two fours from Clark’s opening over, before rain ruled out a resumption until after an early lunch at 1.10pm.Elgar and Westley then initially flourished – once Westley had survived a huge early shout for leg-before when a Worrall outswinger squared him up and thudded into his back pad – and the pair took their third wicket alliance to 69 before Lawes’ introduction dramatically swung the contest back in Surrey’s favour.Worrall had been taken for three offside fours in one over by Elgar, while Westley off drove Clark elegantly for four before flicking Worrall away for further boundaries to fine leg and then off his pads to square leg.But, with his second ball, after replacing Worrall at the Vauxhall End, Lawes had Elgar dropped by Dom Sibley at second slip on 36 before, in his second over, removing both Westley and Matt Critchley.Each time Ben Foakes dived to his right to take good catches as perfectly-pitched outswingers took the edge of both Westley and Critchley’s forward defensive bats and, suddenly, Essex were 86 for four with Lawes on a hat-trick.He had to wait until the first ball of his third over for the hat-trick opportunity, only to see Elgar clip away a full ball to deep mid wicket for three to complete his half-century.Lawes’ six-over spell of two for 18 had, however, seriously damaged Essex’s hopes of batting out the day for a draw and, when Worrall returned to replace Lawes in the attack and tempt Elgar into hooking a short ball straight into deep mid wicket’s hands it looked as if the end was nigh for the visitors.Walter and Pepper, though, added 64 until Lawes struck again with the sixth ball after tea to have Pepper held at second slip for 26, and the young fast bowler then bowled Walter for 56 – via an ugly under-edged pull to a ball that was not there for the shot – to leave Essex 194 for seven.Simon Harmer (7) hung around bravely for 42 balls before edging Worrall to Foakes and the next ball, Clark’s first of the following over, pinned Shane Snater lbw for seven to wrap up Surrey’s win.An overall attendance for the match of 13,706, meanwhile, boosted considerably by the 6,300 who turned up to support the club’s Festival of Red Ball Cricket initiative on day one – when the Oval concourses were offering a wide variety of family-friendly activities – is a ground record for a Surrey championship fixture this century.

Redmayne’s anchoring 34 take low-scoring final out of Welsh Fire’s grasp

Vithushan Ehantharajah18-Aug-2024Two years on from Deepti Sharma sending Charlie Dean into despair by running her out at the non-striker’s end, the pair were jumping into each other’s arms on the same side of the pitch. Deepti had just struck the winning runs in the 2024 women’s Hundred final, a six launched high rather than far, but far enough to send Shabnim Ismail over the sponge with it.And with that, London Spirit were champions for the first time, and whatever diplomatic chaos that England-India ODI conclusion wrought back in 2022 had well and truly been blown out of the water. Foes were now friends. Spirit now champions. Heather Knight’s charges, having grown into this tournament just in the nick of time, scraped into third place and then turned over the top two in the space of a weekend to secure championship status.Victory over Welsh Fire by four wickets, with just two balls to spare, was perhaps closer than it should have been after restricting the league-leaders to 115, a score which relied heavily on Jess Jonassen’s 54. But it was Ismail’s 3 for 24 that sprinkled doubt into Spirit minds with the prime cuts of Meg Lanning, Knight and Danielle Gibson falling to some exceptional pace and movement from the South African quick. It was cruel the final moment had the ball slipping through her grasp.Ultimately, Spirit dug deep, courtesy of a measured 34 from Georgia Redmayne, coming off the back of an unbeaten 53 south of the river 24 hours earlier in the Eliminator. Redmayne did to Fire as she had done to Oval Invincibles; pacing out the chase with a level of calm that this time was broken when Freya Davies nipped one down the slop from around the wicket to pin the left-hander in front. By the time Redmayne had departed, the ask was 12 from 11, but the nerves were evident when Abigail Freeborn was finally run out after a couple of close shaves. Thankfully for Spirit, that brought Dean’s “Future England Captain” calm to the crease, which she used to charge and find a single off her only ball, handing matters back to Deepti, who finished it off in style.Ultimately, Fire will rue a stuttering start after being asked to bat first, that was only salvaged by Jonassen’s maiden half-century in this competition. Three wickets were lost in the first 29 balls. Sarah Glenn’s two in three deliveries – the first accounting for Tammy Beaumont; the second sending Sarah Bryce back to the dugout with a two-ball duck – allowed Spirit to maintain control for most of the first innings.Georgia Redmayne played another vital hand in the chase•ECB/Getty ImagesThe 52-run stand between Jonassen and Hayley Matthews was slow to begin with, particularly as Matthews struggled for timing. But she persisted through the scratchiness, taking the score to 84 before departing for the fourth wicket, hitting the only boundary off Glenn in the process. Had Knight held on to a tough chance at cover – diving, full length, to her right, getting a hand to the ball without clutching – Matthews would have been out on nine and Fire in a host of trouble at 55 for 4.It was at that point Jonassen stepped up a gear, lacing four boundaries in six deliveries – the first three off Gibson, the fourth off Dean – finally giving Spirit something to think about. It did not last long; just 10 runs came off the final 10 deliveries, with four wickets – two of them run-outs.But it did at least lead to a sense of jeopardy when Ismail nipped one down the slope to bowl Knight, and then again to end Gibson’s breezy, momentum-shifting cameo. Five boundaries in her first six deliveries – a couple of neat guides down to third sandwiching clubs to midwicket and through the covers – took the required runs below balls faced for the first time in the second innings, pushing Welsh Fire into a Strategic Timeout with 33 needed from 34.Gibson’s dismissal at the start of Ismail’s final set ended the torrent of boundaries, but it did introduce Deepti to the crease. And though the allrounder was far from fluent upon arrival, missing out on a host of loose deliveries as she tried to manufacture sweep shots that were not quite there, there was a sense that something outlandish was in the offing as we entered the final set of the 2024 competition with six needed. Her bowling may be steady – as it was again on Sunday with 1 for 23 – but Deepti’s batting is often about the devil on her shoulder.The match-up with Matthews for the final set made sense from Fire’s perspective, even if the West Indian had been expensive with 25 off her first 15 deliveries. The lack of pace meant batters had to do something different. And Deepti, charging down to just get to the pitch of the ball and contorting her wrists to heave over wide long on for the only six of the match, did just that.

The Russell Martin regime is in full swing at Rangers, with the Ibrox side having already confirmed seven new signings this summer, with 21-year-old Djeidi Gassama the latest of those to arrive.

Following what was a largely miserable 2024/25 campaign for Rangers, excluding an encouraging Europa League run, a real overhaul is needed for the Light Blues, as they bid to close the gap at the Premiership summit.

The defensive unit, in particular, looks set to undergo noticeable change, with Martin having already brought in Emmanuel Fernandez, Nasser Djiga and Max Aarons thus far, with veteran centre-back Leon Balogun having departed on a free transfer.

With John Souttar attracting interest from abroad, alongside Turkish full-back, Ridvan Yilmaz, there looks likely to be further upheaval before the window is out, ensuring there could be a much-needed fresh look to the Gers’ backline next season.

While Martin’s free-flowing brand of football will put greater emphasis on the attacking ranks to shine, having a solid base to build from will be crucial, with recent reports indicating that a deal for experienced centre-back, Conor Coady could be in the works.

Capped ten times for England, the 32-year-old would be a worthy addition to the Ibrox dressing room, albeit with Martin and co perhaps having their eyes fixed on a far more exciting centre-back signing.

Latest on Rangers' search for a centre-back

Reports late last week revealed that the Gers were still showing an interest in bringing Coady to Glasgow, with that coming following prior claims that Rangers were actually in advanced talks for the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers man.

A deal for the £75k-per-week star – who has a year left on his contract at the King Power Stadium – may not be too far from completion, albeit with the Gers still keeping their options open for potential alternatives in the centre of defence.

Indeed, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Old Firm side are among the clubs interested in signing Xavier Mbuyamba from Dutch outfit, Volendam, with Gent also in the mix.

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Romano reported that the 23-year-old – who was previously on the books at both Barcelona and Chelsea – is available for a fee of just €500k (£434k), having failed to agree to a new contract with his current side.

It is claimed that clubs in England are also keen on the former Celtic target, with the race now on to see if Rangers can secure the signature of a potentially game-changing signing.

Why Rangers need to sign Mbuyamba

As has already been explored, there is certain merit in bringing in a ‘leader’ like Coady, with the Englishman the type of figure who can replace the likes of Balogun, and Connor Goldson before him, as the centre-piece of the defence.

That said, the ageing star would be more of a short-term fix than a long-term solution, having also been part of a dismal Leicester side that slumped to relegation last time out, after making 22 Premier League appearances in 2024/25.

Mbuyamba, however, could be a star both for now and for the future, having previously been hailed as an “elegant and dominant centre-back” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also likened him to ex-Manchester City captain, Vincent Kompany.

For those in the Premiership, a more interesting comparison has been drawn in the past between the 6 foot 5 Dutchman and his high-profile compatriot, Virgil van Dijk, with Sky Sports stating back in 2023 that such likeness has been noted by ‘coaches and media in Holland due to his similar playing style and huge potential’.

That link to Van Dijk had come amid claims that Celtic were interested in signing the then-21-year-old, although two years on, it might well be Martin and Rangers who manage to finally bring Mbuyamba to Glasgow.

While he was operating in Holland’s second tier last season, the in-demand defender did enjoy a fine campaign in all, having showcased his brilliance in both boxes, after scoring five times in 34 league outings, while providing one assist and creating five ‘big chances’, as per Sofascore.

Defensively, the towering ace also helped to keep 12 clean sheets, while averaging 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game. That dominance also saw Mbuyamba win 61% of his total duels.

Games (starts)

34 (34)

Goals

5

Assists

1

Big chances created

4

Key passes

0.4

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles & interceptions

2.8

Dribbled past

0.2

Total duels won

61%

As for Coady, while he was operating at Premier League level, the one-time Liverpool man scored once, while averaging just 1.2 tackles and interceptions per game, alongside winning just 45% of his total duels.

That represents a noticeable drop off from his final season at Wolves in 2021/22, with the then-Old Gold skipper – who was operating as part of a back three at the time – scoring four goals, while averaging 1.5 tackles and interceptions and winning 53% of his total duels.

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Whether, at 32, Coady is merely now on the decline, or perhaps better suited to life in a back three, is up for debate, but either way, his recent woes should have alarm bells ringing for those at Ibrox.

As for Mbuyamba, the former Netherlands youth international still appears to be a player on the rise, with it an exciting prospect to consider whether or not “the new Van Dijk” – as described by journalist Tom Maston – could flourish under Martin’s watch.

On the evidence of his recent form, Coady has already hit his ceiling as a player. Mbuyamba’s potential is yet to be truly explored…

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Rangers could repeat their Abdallah Sima blinder by signing this star this summer.

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Their statement is in response to criticism that called on CSA to boycott Afghanistan for the Taliban government’s treatment of women

Firdose Moonda19-Sep-2024Cricket South Africa has confirmed it will continue to engage Afghanistan in bilateral fixtures because it does not believe in punishing the men’s team for the Taliban’s actions in their home country.CSA’s statement comes in response to severe criticism including from activist organisation Lawyers for Human Rights, which said that by playing Afghanistan, South Africa were tacitly endorsing a repressive regime and called for CSA to boycott Afghanistan. The Taliban government has not only banned women from playing sport but from most areas of public life which the South African government has expressed grave concern over while not calling for outright sanction. CSA has taken a similar approach.In a statement issued on Thursday, CSA confirmed that although it believes “women’s cricket deserves equal recognition and success,” it would not unilaterally isolate the Afghanistan men’s team for its country’s government policy.Related

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“CSA remains mindful that gender equity should never come at the expense of one gender over another,” the statement said. “We recognise that advocating for the advancement of one gender should not undermine the rights of the other. CSA believes there is no justification for subjecting Afghan cricket players – both male and female – to secondary persecution for the actions of the Taliban. We will continue to engage with member countries within the formal structures of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address this matter.”CSA’s stance is also in line with the position of the ICC, which is wary of banning Afghanistan despite their being the only Full Member without a women’s side. ESPNcricinfo understands that among the complexities of forcing the ACB field a women’s team is the risk it could take of retribution from the Taliban, which could include putting those women’s lives at risk.Cricket Australia, on the other hand, has taken the opposite position and on advice from its government has refused to play Afghanistan bilaterally in protest against human rights abuses. CSA does not believe this tactic will be effective and prefers to apply a wide lens on the issue. “Gender advocacy in cricket should never be advanced by meting out punishment on innocent cricket administrators and players for the misdemeanours of a regime that stands to lose nothing from that punishment,” its statement said.

“Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021”CSA official

South Africa are in a unique position to comment such as this because they were banned from international sport themselves from 1970, as a global response to the Apartheid regime. One of the continued discussion points of their isolation was what it would do to sporting careers. At the time, only white South Africans were allowed to represent South Africa, while people of colour had no hope of a professional sports career. South Africa were readmitted after two decades and questions over racial representation remain part of their reality. When asked whether the banning of their organisation also punished administrators and players, an insider pointed out that while it did, it was not effective in advocating for change. “The apartheid government continued with its atrocious policies despite their athletes being banned from international sport. What truly broke the camel’s back were economic sanctions.”CSA also argues that the situation at the ACB is slightly different as there were steps being taken to have a women’s team prior to the Taliban takeover. “Any measures we consider must take into account the progress made by the Afghanistan Cricket Board in promoting women’s cricket prior to the Taliban’s ban on female participation in sports in August 2021.”In 2020, the ACB pledged contracts to 25 female players, which showed steps towards creating a women’s team were being made. Those players attended a training camp and were due to play against Oman but the games did not take place. Many of them are now in exile in Australia and have called on the ICC to support the creation of a refugee team for them based at the East Asian Cricket office. It is not known if any of the refugee sportswomen are in South Africa.CSA’s statement is also a nod to the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) who, last week, issued an advisory supporting the promotion of women in cricket and called on CSA to use its leverage to highlight rights for Afghan women. Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s ODI captain, echoed SACA’s sentiments and called women’s rights “something that is quite strong within my own values.”South Africa and Afghanistan are currently playing a three-match ODI series in the UAE. Bavuma missed the first match, which South Africa lost by six wickets, with illness. The second and third ODIs are scheduled to be played on Friday and Sunday. This three-match contest was not on the original Future Tours Programme (FTP) and was sought by CSA and the ACB with a view to preparing for next year’s Champions Trophy.