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Jude Bellingham is feeling “really good” after bringing his goal drought at Real Madrid to a close. The England international midfielder was on target for the Blancos in a Champions League win over Juventus, with the 22-year-old opening his account for the 2025-26 campaign after recovering from summer shoulder surgery. There is now the promise of much more to come.

Delayed start: Shoulder operation kept Bellingham sidelined

Bellingham went under the knife after turning out at the FIFA Club World Cup. His last outing there came on July 9. He did not figure for Real again until September 20, with his start to the new campaign being delayed. Six appearances were taken in without finding the back of the net.

The Three Lions superstar was, however, back on target in European competition. Real needed inspiration from somewhere when trying to break down stubborn resistance from Serie A giants Juve. Vinicius Junior provided that spark when twisting and turning inside the box. His shot cannoned back off the post, but fell kindly for Bellingham to bundle home from close range.

AdvertisementGettyRelief for Bellingham: Goal account opened for the season

Relief poured out of Bellingham as he delivered his trademark celebration, with end product in the final third an important part of his game. His last goal for Real came at the Club World Cup in June. He had found the target just twice through his last 23 appearances for the Blancos.

Bellingham told of getting off the mark in 2025-26: “It's a great feeling, a long time now since I've scored, a lot of time out and dreaming of that moment, back in the Champions League and against a big team. To score a winner, here at home, it's unbelievable. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well was important, and to score the winning goal helps the team a lot.”

Real are confident that Bellingham will continue to move through the gears, allowing him to get back to his very best. Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois claims to already be seeing signs of that, saying of an important goal against Juve: “It's what I like about that kind of player. Vini makes his move, and [Jude] is there, watching for the second ball. He's getting back to his best level. He had a great game.”

Bellingham dip: Reaction to 2024-25 campaign

Bellingham registered 23 goals across his debut campaign in Madrid, helping Real to La Liga and Champions League titles. His output dipped to 15 efforts last season, with the plan being to kick on again this term.

Bellingham added: “I didn't think last year was a disaster. [It was] still 15 goals, 14 assists, but I know the general feeling was that it was worse. But I was a part of that, how we didn't play as well last year.

“There were still good moments, but not the level I want to play at, not the level like the first year. Now I've had my shoulder surgery, a new manager [Xabi Alonso], he's got that shape, how we want to play. You have to learn from it.”

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AFPEl Clasico: Date with Barcelona next up for Bellingham

Alonso has been accused of rushing Bellingham back into action, with it originally suggested that he could be out until November. The Blancos boss is, however, impressed by what he has seen from a key part of his plans.

Alonso said: “Independently of the goal, Jude had a very complete game. It was difficult, there wasn't much space, Juve sat deep. I liked the game he played in Getafe and I liked his game today a lot, and he scored a goal, too. He was competitive, he won a lot of balls, he got into positions in the box. He's a player who can cover ground, he's versatile, he has different qualities, and he knows how to get into the box, that's why he's one of the most complete players in the world.”

Real will need Bellingham to be at his best in their next game as, having maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe, they are preparing to face Clasico rivals Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur fans may not have endured the success they may have wanted over recent years, but they have truly been blessed with an array of attacking talent.

Harry Kane emerged through the club’s academy system before making the jump into the first-team and having a huge impact on their goal tally in the Premier League.

He scored 280 times for the Lilywhites – making him their record goalscorer, with 213 of his efforts coming in England’s top-flight, which sees him sit behind just Alan Shearer in the list.

Gareth Bale was another player who caught the eye in North London, often nailing the right-hand side as his own with his stupendous long-range efforts.

Both players departed the club for huge money, with both fees being over £80m, but it’s undoubtedly left the side short in key moments over the last couple of seasons.

However, Thomas Frank will be hoping that one player in his ranks will be able to replicate the success of the aforementioned duo during his tenure at the helm.

How Kudus has fared since moving to Spurs

In an attempt to bolster the options available to him in wide areas, Frank completed the deal of winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United during the summer window, subsequently forking out £55m for his signature.

The Ghanaian plied his trade across the capital over a two-year spell, having the experience needed to make an immediate impact for Spurs in North London.

He may only be a handful of games into his Premier League career for the Lilywhites, but he’s already adhered himself to the fanbase – playing a part in nearly 50% of their goals to date.

The 25-year-old has notched four assists in his first five league outings, with the latter half of his goal contributions both coming in the 2-2 draw at Brighton on Saturday afternoon.

His pace, combined with his evident end product, is a combination that could provide the needed quality in the first-team squad if they are to build on the Europa League triumph.

However, despite his early success after his big-money move, the club may regret the sale of one player who has since thrived after leaving a couple of years ago.

The former Spurs star who is outperforming Kudus

The Ange Postecoglou reign at Spurs was certainly one that was topsy-turvy, with numerous moments of magic glossing over the dismal spell in the Premier League.

He was responsible for ending their 17-year trophy drought, but also registering their worst ever top-flight finish in terms of losses, falling to a defeat on 22 occasions out of a possible 38 outings.

However, his departure was confirmed during the off-season, bringing his two-year spell in North London to a close, leading to Frank’s appointment for the 2025/26 campaign.

His decision-making was called into question at time, even making bold decisions with transfers – subsequently releasing attacker Ivan Perišić in the summer of 2024.

The Croatian originally joined the Lilywhites on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, joining from Inter Milan and having a huge impact during his debut campaign in England.

He scored once and registered 12 assists in the 2022/23 campaign – the most of any player in the squad – but his progress would be hugely disrupted in his second campaign at the club.

Perisic suffered an ACL injury just weeks into the season, resulting in just six appearances in 2023/24, which saw him brutally released by Postecoglou that summer.

Most G&A’s at PSV in the Eredivisie (2024/25)
Player	Tally
Luuk de Jong	22
Ismael Saibari	22
Guus Til	21
Noa Lang	21
Ivan Perišić	17
Malik Tillman	14
Ricardo Pepi	13
Johan Bakayako	10
Stats via FotMob

However, the 36-year-old has recaptured his best form at PSV, with the winger, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, registering 26 combined goals and assists across all competitions last campaign.

Even in 2025/26, he’s continued to produce the magic he did for the Lilywhites, scoring once and registering four assists in his first eight league games for PSV.

Such a tally is higher than that of Kudus, subsequently highlighting how impressive Perisic has been lately – especially after suffering such a serious injury in North London.

Questions will be asked about the quality of opposition he’s coming up against compared to the Ghanaian, but there’s no denying the hierarchy made a mistake in allowing him to depart the club.

At 36, Perisic is still proving all the doubters wrong, arguably in the form of his career, and managing to produce some simply spectacular figures within the final third.

As for Kudus, he will be hoping that he can continue his impressive start to life under Frank, with the winger having the opportunity to catapult the club to further glory.

Had Perisic remained at the club, he may have struck an excellent partnership with the former, massively increasing the chances of success given the figures produced away from North London.

Better than Kudus: 8/10 Spurs talent is heading for a Spence-esque revival

Tottenham are certainly taking shape under the wing of Thomas Frank.

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 21, 2025

Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has praised his compatriot, AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric, saying the Croatian’s intelligence puts him a step ahead of everyone else. Rakitic also attributes Modric’s longevity to his unique lifestyle, noting that he approaches football differently from most players and genuinely enjoys the game as he tipped the Rossoneri to challenge for the Serie A title.

• Widespread praise for Modric

  Milan midfielder Modric has earned widespread acclaim for his performances since he joined the San Siro side after his long spell at Real Madrid came to an end in the summer. He became the oldest midfielder in Serie A history to score when he netted the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bologna. Coach Massimiliano Allegri says Modric is always a step ahead of everyone else while Milan legend Demetrio Albertini compared him to Andrea Pirlo, praising his ability to elevate those playing alongside him.

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• Getty
  

  Rakitic's praise for Modric and his secret to longevity

  In an interview with , Rakitic spoke about how happy Modric is at Milan: "We spoke yesterday, he's very happy, he invited me to Milan. He says Italian football is very different from Spanish football, but he's having a great time. And he's also very happy with his teammates; his family is enjoying this new chapter. He has [director Igli] Tare to thank for all of this: he was the one who brought him to AC Milan."

  Rakitic also revealed Modric’s secret to career longevity: "Luka is totally different from the others in his way of living and working. He enjoys his profession; he lives for football and does everything well. He has a physical trainer he works with every day, but he has a footballing intelligence that puts him ahead of everyone else. Now he's better than ever."

• Milan's scudetto chances

  After Milan collected an impressive four points against fellow Serie A contenders Napoli and Juventus, Rakitic believes that with a coach like Allegri and a winning mentality like Modric’s, the Scudetto is an achievable target. 

  "It will be decided in March. I like teams that grow throughout the year: you don't have to be at their best in November or February, but in the spring. If the players do that, with a coach like Allegri who has won everything, they can win," he added.

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• AFP
  

  Milan's upcoming test vs Fiorentina

  Milan and Allegri will rely on Modric’s experience and technique as they aim to mount a Scudetto challenge. The Rossoneri face Fiorentina on October 19 and will hope they can secure all three points against Stefano Pioli’s side.

MatériaMais Notícias

Apenas o processo burocrático final se coloca entre o Bahia e a oficialização da chegada do lateral-direito Gilberto, nome que estava desde 2020 defendendo o Benfica. A informação foi inicialmente veiculada pelo portal ‘ge’ e confirmada pelo Futebol Latino/LANCE!

No aspecto da negociação entre as partes, existe acordo verbal entre atleta, esquadrão e a representação portuguesa em negócio que envolverá o pagamento de três milhões de euros, algo equivalente a R$ 15,8 milhões na atual cotação. A taxa de transferência em questão era de quatro milhões de euros (R$ 21,1 milhões), mas o clube brasileiro conseguiu baixar a pedida.

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Dessa forma, restam somente a realização dos tradicionais exames médicos para que, não havendo qualquer tipo de situação inesperada, seja assinado acordo com o Esquadrão. Não à toa, o jogador de 30 anos de idade já está na cidade de Salvador para o cumprimento dos trâmites.

Aos 30 anos de idade, Gilberto tem a oportunidade de voltar ao futebol brasileiro após três anos, tendo sido negociado com o Fluminense para o futebol português em transação que também envolveu o valor de três milhões de euros. Quantia essa que, na época, equivalia a R$ 19,1 milhões.

>Transforme qualquer TV em Smart e assista aos jogos do seu time do coração quando quiser!

Apesar da simbologia de ser a primeira contratação de Jorge Jesus, técnico que voltava ao clube de Lisboa após passagem de muito sucesso pelo Flamengo, o lateral-direito viveu altos e baixos onde angariou números da ordem de 106 jogos, oito gols e sete assistências além da conquista do Campeonato Português na temporada recém-finalizada.

Jose Mourinho has already been warned of the sack threat he faces at Benfica, with the Portuguese a matter of hours into the two-year contract that he has signed at Estadio da Luz. The enigmatic former Porto, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter boss is aware that he needs to deliver positive results in order to see out a deal through to the summer of 2027.

• Full circle: Mourinho back where it all began

  Having been relieved of his duties at Turkish side Fenerbahce on the back of suffering a Champions League qualification defeat to Benfica, Mourinho finds himself back his homeland and where it all began for him in a managerial capacity in 2000.

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• Special One: Portuguese boasts glittering CV

  The ‘Special One’ is now 62 years of age, but he remains as competitive as ever. He is eager to deliver tangible success at Benfica – having made a habit of collecting major silverware over the course of his glittering coaching career – but knows that events on and off the field could impact his short and long-term future in Lisbon.

• Presidential elections lined up by Benfica

  With presidential elections set to take place at Benfica in October, Rui Costa – who currently fills that role – told reporters when asked if Mourinho is an "electoral asset" for him: "I'm here as president of Benfica, I'm choosing a coach for Benfica. It confuses me that these terms are used. Our obligation is the future of the club, and not thinking about elections would mean leaving the club without a coach until the elections.

  "Mourinho is Benfica's coach because we believe he has all the credentials to lead a club like ours. We felt we had to change the coaching staff, and he needed a coach capable of managing a club of this size."

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  Mourinho's contract: Terms of Benfica deal

  On the terms of Mourinho’s contract, Costa added: "There's a clause at the end of the season that leaves the club the option of continuing with the coach or not. We're hiring a coach for Benfica who's not indifferent at the global level; he's one of the most highly regarded names in the world. We're securing Benfica's future with an excellent coach."

Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a number 10 after James Maddison’s serious knee injury, with the club confirming some very bad news on Thursday.

The England international is now set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL, which is expected to keep him out for the majority of 2025/2026 – dealing a major blow to Thomas Frank ahead of his first full season in charge.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Frank watched on from the sidelines as his Spurs side were thrashed 4-0 by Bayern Munich on Thursday, and while it’s important not to read too much into pre-season, the Lilywhites looked bereft of ideas in Bavaria.

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The trouncing occurred almost immediately after Tottenham confirmed the dreadful news about Maddison, and supporters are very keen to see chairman Daniel Levy swiftly enter the market for a new playmaker.

The 28-year-old joins Dejan Kulusevski, who was also sidelined with a serious knee injury earlier this year, on the sidelines – with Tottenham now minus two key creators.

Club legend Son Heung-min drew the curtain on his 10-year stay in north London with an MLS record-breaking £20 million move to Los Angeles FC earlier this week too, following an emotional goodbye in Seoul – further emphasising the need for Levy to bring in another attacker.

According to recent reports, Spurs are wasting no time in trying to find a man who can help to fill the voids left by Maddison, Kulusevski and Son.

Sky Italia reporter, Gianluca Di Marzio, claims that Tottenham have already had a £35 million bid rejected for Como starlet Nico Paz, while it is also believed that Spurs made contact over signing top Everton target Jack Grealish in the last few days (Fabrizio Romano).

Liverpool attacker Harvey Elliott, who’s attracting serious interest from the Bundesliga after his stellar Euro Under-21 campaign with England, has been mooted as a potential target as well.

Harvey Elliott keen to join Tottenham after direct talks with Thomas Frank

Despite RB Leipzig’s advancing pursuit of the 22-year-old (Florian Plettenberg), Football Transfers have shared that Spurs are not completely out of the race just yet.

According to their information, Elliott has held direct talks with Frank about joining Tottenham, and he’s keen – seeing a move to London as the ‘ideal opportunity’ to compete for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad ahead of the World Cup next year.

Frank apparently views the Anfield sensation as “central” to his attacking plans, and the Dane has already informed Elliott of his ideas to use the attacker as Tottenham’s new number 10 in Maddison’s absence.

The former Fulham starlet could leave Merseyside for around £40 million, but Liverpool are insistent that a buy-back clause must be included in any proposed deal.

It is claimed that Levy is “willing to meet all of Liverpool’s demands” when it comes to terms, meaning negotiations are poised to take a positive turn.

Elliott’s sky-high potential, and the fact he can help to fill Tottenham’s ‘locally trained’ Champions League quota, make him a standout attacking candidate at pretty good value.

The player stands to earn far more minutes down south than he does under Arne Slot next season, so this deal could be a serious win-win for everyone involved, as Liverpool also need to balance the books after a serious summer of spending.

An emergency meeting of the ICC Board will be convened to discuss this matter, with fewer than 100 days left to the expected start of the tournament

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Nov-2024The ICC Board will convene next week for an emergency meeting to discuss the fate of the 2025 Champions Trophy. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the single-point agenda for the meeting, which is likely to be held on November 26, is to reach a consensus on whether a hybrid model should be adopted for the tournament with matches being spread between Pakistan, the host country, and a second overseas venue, which is yet to be confirmed.While several people privy to discussions confirmed the development to ESPNcricinfo, an ICC spokesperson said there had been no official communication confirming the meeting next week. It is not clear how many boards have been informed of the meeting at this point. A PCB official also said they had received no such information at the moment.The ICC Board comprises representatives from the 12 Full Member countries, three representatives from Associates, an independent director along with the ICC chairman and CEO.The meeting has been called for after the BCCI told the ICC that the Indian government has denied Rohit Sharma’s team permission to travel to Pakistan. That decision only came a fortnight ago; the PCB was awarded hosting rights for the eight-team ODI tournament three years ago, in November 2021, and has been steadfast about conducting the entire event in Pakistan, at three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.Related

India will not travel to Pakistan for 2025 Champions Trophy

PCB approaches Pakistan government after India rule out travelling

PCB wants an explanation in writing from India for refusal to travel

BCCI objects to PCB's Champions Trophy tour to Muzaffarabad

PCB draft schedule has all India games in Lahore

The impasse has meant that with under 100 days to the expected start of the tournament – as hosts, the PCB have penciled it in to run from February 19 to March 9 – there is still no official schedule from the ICC for the event.Speaking to media in Pakistan this week, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said he retained “positive expectations” about the Champions Trophy taking place in the country. Naqvi, who is also the head of the Interior Ministry of the Pakistan government, said he was willing to have a dialogue with the BCCI to break the deadlock, even while the PCB awaits a response from the ICC to a set of questions about why India cannot travel to Pakistan for the tournament.This is the second time in successive years the PCB has been confronted with the hybrid model to host a multi-national tournament to accommodate India. The 2023 Asia Cup was played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the Indian team was refused permission to travel to Pakistan. It was Pakistan that travelled between their country and Sri Lanka where the tournament final was played. Pakistan travelled to India for the ODI World Cup soon after that tournament, a decision the PCB has said it expected to be reciprocated for the Champions Trophy.Earlier this week the India team was also forced to withdraw from the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in Pakistan, after failing to secure the Indian government’s clearance for the squad to travel to Pakistan.

Having already won the series, India could give a chance to Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana

Mohammad Isam11-Oct-2024Big picture: Bangladesh’s last chance to salvage prideAfter winning the Test series 2-0, India will be keen to stretch their dominance against Bangladesh to the absolute by carrying their T20I form from Gwalior and Delhi into Hyderabad, in the third T20I. It is the final match of a tour where Bangladesh have batted woefully, and bowled well only in certain periods. That was not good enough as India displayed their heightened T20 skills.In the second T20I, the home side posted their highest total against Bangladesh even after losing three wickets in the powerplay. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh added 108 for the fourth wicket before Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag struck meaty blows at the death. A target of 222 was overbearing on the visitors who could manage only 135 for 9. India now have the option to test the rest of the squad after going unchanged in the first two games.The only solace for Bangladesh in the series so far has been that their seamers have performed satisfactorily. Taskin Ahmed took 2 for 16 in Delhi while Mustafizur Rahman was wily as usual and Tanzim Hasan Sakib showed his growing skills. The spinners, though, couldn’t find their right lengths and let them down.Related

Taskin urges BCB to prepare better pitches at home

Reddy arrives with a bang and a 'promise of more'

Bangladesh’s top order, too, hasn’t given them the best of starts. Litton Das and newcomer Parvez Hossain Emon went too hard at the bowling without the desired results, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto looked good in patches before caving in quickly. Top order and spinners must get their act together for the visitors to have one last chance to at least threaten the hosts on this tour.Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLLIn the spotlight: Nitish Kumar Reddy and MahmudullahNitish Kumar Reddy has slotted right into India’s template of being an attacking batting unit. During the second T20I in Delhi, he struck seven sixes in his 34-ball 74 after his side had slipped to 41 for 3 in the sixth over. Even Rinku, a big-hitter himself, played second fiddle to Reddy for most of their partnership. Reddy has plenty of shots in his arsenal, including the ability to rotate strike. India will be equally interested in how he develops his medium-pace bowling in the long run.Nitish Kumar Reddy showed a lot of promise during the second T20I•BCCIWhile Reddy is just starting out, Mahmudullah will be playing his last T20I for Bangladesh. The veteran of 140 matches announced his retirement from the format before the Delhi game. It wasn’t a huge surprise, given Mahmudullah’s age and lack of form of late. Although he top-scored with 41 for Bangladesh in Delhi, it was yet another example of a fire fighting than taking the attack to the opposition. Bangladesh have a long discussion ahead of them to replace Mahmudullah in the T20I side, but Hyderabad will be the occasion to bid him goodbye.Team news: India to test bench strength?Ravi Bishnoi, Tilak Verma, Jitesh Sharma and Harshit Rana warmed the bench in the first two T20Is but could get a run in Hyderabad, especially with the series already decided.India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Riyan Parag, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Varun Chakravarthy/Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mayank Yadav/Harshit RanaBangladesh may bring in Mahedi Hasan in place of Jaker Ali.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Parvez Hossain Emon, 2 Litton Das (wk), 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditions: Rain could interrupt playIn IPL 2024, the three sides who made 200-plus batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium won the game. However, there’s a forecast of rain in Hyderabad on Saturday.Stats and trivia: India extends home domination India stretched their unbeaten run in the bilateral T20I series at home to 16 after beating Bangladesh by 86 runs in Delhi. In a streak that goes back to September 2019, they have won 14 series and drawn two. In IPL 2024, Abhishek Sharma struck 284 runs, including three fifties, at a strike rate of 249.12 in Hyderabad. In Delhi, India used seven bowlers and each took at least one wicket. Bangladesh’s spinners conceded 14.75 runs per over in Delhi, their most expensive collective performance in a T20I when they bowled a minimum of five overs.

Sri Lanka captain also credits spinners and interim coach Jayasuriya for their first ODI series win against India in 27 years

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Aug-2024

Avishka Fernando paced his half-century well in the ODI series decider•Associated Press

Sri Lanka’s top-order batters were good, and their spinners were even better. This was captain Charith Asalanka’s take on what had enabled his team to overcome India, a side which they had lost to 16 times since 2015, but beaten only on three occasions in ODIs.In this series, played on raging turners, Sri Lanka tied the first match, won the second game comfortably, and then trounced India in the third match by 110 runs.Three times they bowled out their opposition, and spinners took 27 of the 30 India wickets on offer. The three top wicket-takers in the series were all Sri Lanka spinners – Jeffrey Vandersay taking eight despite playing only two of the games, Dunith Wellalage claiming seven, and Asalanka himself taking six.Sri Lanka did not have their premier spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in games two and three either, after he was ruled out with a leg injury.”The biggest positive was winning a series against India after 27 years,” Asalanka said. “The other big positive were the spinners. We had relied on Wanindu Hasaranga, but we’ve had Vandersay and Dunith playing well here too.”Related

Stats – SL's spinners end India's 27-year streak

Wellalage five-for sends India crashing to 2-0 defeat

But while on such helpful tracks, the spinners were perhaps expected to thrive, Sri Lanka’s top order also provided the kinds of platforms they have frequently failed to provide, especially against India.The highest score of the series was Avishka Fernando’s 96 in the third match. But fellow opener Pathum Nissanka hit 101 runs in a low-scoring series, and Kusal Mendis also contributed 103, thanks largely to his 59 in Wednesday’s match.”On these pitches, until the ball gets a little older, it’s easier to bat, and it takes less spin,” Asalanka said. “What we planned was for someone in the top order to get a big score, and for others around him to play around him and get to a good score. Today that was really successful, as Avishka got to 96, which isn’t easy on a pitch like this.”But the coaching staff and me as the captain gave that challenge to the batsmen playing up the order, including me. If you look through the series the middle order was a little hit and miss, but the top order was successful, so we were able to get to those targets.”The top order gave great starts and that’s the biggest change I see in this team. If you look at our one-day cricket two or three years ago we weren’t getting good starts. As the No. 5 batter, I was coming in at the 10 over mark quite frequently. But now there’s a foundation, and that’s a sign of us maturing.”For turning things around after their 3-0 thrashing in the T20Is, Asalanka credited a team environment that prioritised freedom, for which he said interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya was also responsible.”As a team we tried to create a good environment, after talking to the coach,” Asalanka said. “We tried to give a lot of freedom to our players and to show their talent. We don’t put much pressure on them. We identify what the positives and negatives are and we back their strength. If they fail it’s not a problem. If you have that backing you can play against a good team like this. In the T20s though we lost there were positives in our top order. I knew as a captain that when we play to our potential, we can compete against the best.”

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.

Season

Final placing

2024/25

13th

2012/13

6th

2011/12

7th

2010/11

7th

2009/10

8th

2008/09

5th

2007/08

5th

2006/07

6th

2005/06

11th

2004/05

4th

2003/04

17th

2002/03

7th

2001/02

15th

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?

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

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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.

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ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025