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A leading surgeon who treated Harry Kane following his hamstring injury in 2020 has been awarded £37,000 (€42,386/$49,458) in damages from the UK’s oldest Bentley dealership after his new car was stolen. Professor Fares Haddad tended to the England captain after he underwent surgery to repair a ruptured tendon during the 2019-20 Premier League season.

Prof Haddad sues Jack Barclay Ltd. following 2023 car theft

A world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports medicine, Prof. Haddad successfully sued Jack Barclay Ltd. – based in Mayfair, London – following the theft of his Bentley Continental GTW12.

According to the luxury car was stolen from Prof. Haddad’s driveway in January 2023. But when he attempted to claim on his insurance, the payout was refused because the car’s tracker system was not properly activated. While cutting-edge tracker software had been installed by Jack Barclay’s staff, an important subscription service remained inactive.

Prof. Haddad had assumed Jack Barclay’s staff would establish a continuous tracker subscription via Vodafone. The 58-year-old came to that understanding following conversations and email exchanges between himself and a showroom executive in 2019, when he was considering buying the Bentley.

AdvertisementAFPMr Haddad had claimed a total of £82,643 from Bentley dealership

Following a trial at Central London County Court, Judge Andrew Holmes ruled in favour of Prof. Haddad, finding Jack Barclay Ltd. at fault for failing to send an email to Vodafone, which would have started the tracker. However, Judge Holmes also decided Mr. Haddad bore some responsibility for failing to notice there was no subscription in place until after the Bentley was stolen.

Judge Holmes slashed the award of £82,643 by 60 per cent to £33,057 to reflect Prof. Haddad’s “contributory negligence”, although with accumulated interest his total award will come to just over £37,000.

Mr. Haddad had claimed a total of £78,643 from Jack Barclay Ltd., suing for the return of money paid out under his Hire Purchase (HP) agreement – which his insurers refused to cover after the theft – plus £4,000 for the cost of a replacement hire car.

Judge finds Mr Haddad bore 'contributory negligence' during trial

Speaking during the trial, Judge Holmes told the court: “But for the failure to send the form to Vodafone, Prof. Haddad’s losses would not have occurred. Had the tracker subscription been incepted, Prof. Haddad would have taken the steps necessary to continue it.”

He added: “I see considerable force in the suggestion that Prof. Haddad had a responsibility thereafter to ensure that the tracker was activated.

“With each year that went by, the failure to notice or to check his records becomes more difficult to understand.

“The ordinary person taking an ordinary level of care of his or her own affairs would be expected over time to realise that he was not making payment, or receiving correspondence, about an important point in relation to the insurance of a valuable vehicle.”

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Getty Images SportProf Haddad played key role in Kane's surgery in January 2020

Prof. Haddad – the clinical director of the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health – played a key role in helping Bayern Munich striker Kane return towards the end of the 2019-20 season which was heavily disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The forward – then playing for Tottenham Hotspur – went under the knife to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring in January 2020. He sustained the injury in Spurs’ 1-0 Premier League defeat against Southampton on 1 January 2020 before returning to training in May of that year and competing in the latter part of the specially-extended campaign.

Kane went on to finish as Tottenham’s top goalscorer in 2019-20, netting 18 league goals as the north Londoners came sixth under then-manager Jose Mourinho, who succeeded Mauricio Pochettino on 20 November 2019.

Mikel Arteta is now driving Arsenal’s move to sign Scott McTominay, with the manager of the belief the Scot would be the perfect addition to his midfield, and Napoli’s asking price has been revealed.

Arteta is already blessed with a wide array of options in central midfield, having signed Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi in the summer, while Declan Rice also continues to impress, receiving plaudits from Gary Neville after the recent 4-1 North London derby victory.

Neville said: “The only player you would be worried about losing for a period of time would be Declan Rice because you cannot replace that,”

“That is your Roy Keane, that is your Rodri, the player that holds you together. There is only one of them.”

However, despite strengthening considerably in the summer, the Gunners have struggled injury-wise this season, with Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus being ruled out against Tottenham Hotspur, meaning Mikel Merino had to lead the line.

As such, it could be a wise idea to bring in another central midfielder in the transfer window, and Arteta is personally a fan of a Serie A star…

Arteta driving Arsenal move for Scott McTominay

According to a report from Spain, Arteta believes McTominay could be the ideal addition to his midfield, with Arsenal closely monitoring the Napoli star’s performances over the past few months.

The Spanish manager rates the Scotland international highly due to his ability and press forward, and there are signs that a deal could be possible, though Andrea Berta will have to stump up £60m.

The 28-year-old is under contract until 2029, meaning Napoli are in a strong negotiating position at present, but interest from elsewhere is growing, with Manchester United also joining the race to re-sign their former player.

The Napoli star has certainly taken his career to new heights since leaving Old Trafford, with football writer Mark Carruthers praising him for the part he played in the Serie A side winning the title last season.

The former Man United man displayed his attacking quality as Napoli went on to win the league, picking up 12 goals and six assists in 34 Serie A outings, and he recently scored a remarkable bicycle kick as Scotland beat Denmark 4-2 to qualify for the World Cup.

It may be difficult for McTominay to force his way into the Arsenal starting XI ahead of Rice and Zubimendi, but he would certainly provide Arteta with fantastic depth in the middle of the park.

Scott McTominay has been named as one of the best midfielders in the world Related The Best 15 Midfielders in World Football Ranked (2025)

Some of the best players in the world do their stuff in the middle of the park, but who’s number one?

Posts 5 ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

Liverpool manager Arne Slot cut a defiant figure in his post-match interview following Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest earlier today. The Dutchman insisted the "solution is not that far away" for the Reds, despite admitting the mood in the camp is low after the champions fell to their sixth league loss of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

• Liverpool fall to another defeat against Nottingham Forest

  Slot's insistence his side are able to turn this around will be of scant comfort to the Liverpool fans after another woeful display. The Reds fell behind to another set piece goal, as Murillo powered home a left-footed shot in the 33rd minute after the hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner. The opener was not without controversy however, as Dan Ndoye was adjudged not to have interfered with Alisson's line of sight while in an offside position. That will add additional insult to injury for Liverpool, just weeks after Virgil Van Dijk's header was chalked off in their 3-0 loss to Manchester City, when Andy Robertson was ruled to have influenced Gianluigi Donarumma's ability to play the ball. 

  There was some respite for the hosts a few minutes later, as Igor Jesus was deemed to have handled the ball in the buildup to his disallowed effort, despite replays apparently showing the ball never struck the Brazilian's hand. 

  Liverpool failed to capitalise on that let-off, falling further behind to Niccolo Savona's strike in the opening minute of the second half. Their misery was compounded by Morgan Gibbs-White's 78th minute goal. 

  Despite yet another brutal loss, Slot suggested a resolution was within touching distance for a talented side that has badly lost its way in recent months. 

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  Slot's message

  Speaking after the game, Slot said: "The first half hour, I think the players did what I was hoping for. Played with energy and created chances to go a goal up. The set piece changed the momentum and the goal. I tried to make a couple of changes and adjustments but they didn't work out the way I wanted. It's always my responsibility."

  When asked if his players are low on cofidence, the Premier League winning manager said: "I don't feel this, or I don't see this. After we go 1-0, we struggled. I tried to pump them up and give them the information to start the second half well. Immediately, they go 2-0 up. The players kept trying, I can't blame them for that. They blocked every shot we had.

  "The solution is not that far away. We created chances in every and it's not as if we give away 10 chances. That will not go on forever but we have to look at ourselves and what we can do better when we concede a goal. Two games in a row, we haven't scored."

  However, Slot did admit the players are in low spirits: "It should be like this. No matter what kind of form you're in when you're losing at home 3-0 and the run of form we've been in. Champions League is coming up and the players we have available have to find their energy to go again.

  "It doesn't happen a lot at Anfield that we lose 3-0. I told the players afterwards the fans were singing after the final whistle. I don't think it's strange that you go home if you're 3-0 down."

• Are Liverpool about to turn a corner?

  There are problems all over the pitch for Slot's side. Alexander Isak logged just 15 touches in 67 minutes of action on Saturday. Our writer awarded the embattled Swede a paltry 2/10 grade for his performance. His fellow attackers have failed to produce this term, with Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike all either struggling for form or out through injury. 

  Virgil Van Dijk used his post match media opportunity to lambast the Reds' defensive record. Liverpool have conceded nine goals from dead balls in the league this term, something which prompted the club captain to lament his side's propensity for giving up "easy goals". 

  Struggling to score, and failing to keep the opposition out, it's hard to square Slot's comments with the reality of Liverpool's current predicament. 

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  Is Slot at risk of the sack?

  Just five months ago, Slot was lifting the Premier League title in a scarcely believable debut season in English football. Now, he finds himself managing a crisis-ridden club amid inquisitions about his position going forward. 

  If the solutions are not far away, then the Reds desperately need to put a run of improved performances together. They host PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday, before travelling to east London to take on West Ham on November 30. 

Aston Villa has been home to various Premier League greats over the years.

Gareth Barry would go on to make a whopping 439 appearances for the Villans, with 53 England caps even falling into the tough midfielder’s lap by the end of his long-winding and successful career.

Ashley Young also springs to mind as another top-flight veteran who used to call Villa Park home, whilst Jack Grealish is certainly one of the most entertaining stars Villa have ever had on their books in the elite division, before he was poached for an outrageous £100m by Manchester City.

James Milner is another name that might well fly under the radar in these conversations, with the ultra-reliable midfielder often thought of as a Liverpool and Manchester City staple.

Yet, it was with Villa where he really began to shine as a dependable spark in the Premier League.

Why James Milner is still a hero at Villa

Before going on to win three Premier League titles with the aforementioned Reds and the Citizens, Milner was a rising star in the top-flight, ready to be taken to that next level, after collecting 11 goals and 20 assists in total for Newcastle United.

In a Villa set-up that often saw him line up alongside even more much-loved favourites of the past in Brad Friedel and Gabriel Agbonlahor, Milner would often shine the brightest, with two standout seasons in the West Midlands pushing him on to join City.

Only missing two Premier League games across the 2008/09 and the 2009/10 seasons meant Milner became a relied-upon regular, and he had the quality to back up his hard work for the team, too.

A stunning haul of 19 goals and 25 assists in all competitions over those two campaigns lead to his Villa boss in Martin O’Neill hailing him as “sensational.”

Capable of also playing down either flank away from his central midfield duties, it’s very clear now why the Leeds-born 39-year-old has gone on to have such a well-established career at the very top, off the back of his early days at Villa, having very rarely made a blip across his 643 games and counting in the competitive division.

Still plugging away for Brighton and Hove Albion – with a penalty even put away in August – Milner must surely stand out as a glowing example to footballers trying to make it big today when it comes to ageing gracefully.

Emery arguably has his own Milner-type presence back at Villa Park now, with the star in question only getting better with age to rival their former number eight’s insane longevity.

Emery's own Milner-type player

Milner very much proved at both Anfield and the Etihad that a steady presence can go a long way, even if there were flashier figures that surrounded him.

Indeed, Emery might well have faces such as Morgan Rogers – who has been touted to be worth £100m – at his disposal, alongside feared marksman Ollie Watkins, but he knows he will always get a consistent magic out of John McGinn whenever he is chosen to don Villa claret and blue, even as the Scotsman now hits 30 years of age.

25/26

11

3 + 1

24/25

49

4 + 6

23/24

53

9 + 8

22/23

36

1 + 3

21/22

36

3 + 4

20/21

37

3 + 6

19/20

30

3 + 3

18/19

44

6 + 10

Just one glance at the table above reinforces the idea that McGinn is Mr consistent for the West Midlands outfit, much like Milner was at Villa Park, with a stunning haul of 33 goals and 41 assists next to his name for the Villans from 295 appearances, which stretches all the way back to their unfortunate Championship days.

He has always received warm praise for his memorable contributions, too, with his ex-Villa boss in Dean Smith, hailing him as a “driving force” for the side all the way back in 2021, while forgotten former manager Steve Bruce also lauded him as a “hero” from the minute he arrived in Birmingham.

Those words still very much ring true, even as McGinn enters the arguable twilight years of his career, with the Glaswegian already three goals and one assist down this campaign, which included this fierce strike breaking a Europa League deadlock against Bologna.

Time will only tell if the Villans captain will still be plying his trade in the Premier League come his 39th birthday, but it’s clear right now that he is as beloved as Milner was at Villa Park, for being another adaptable presence always ready to give his all.

Aston Villa now open agent talks to sign Martinez heir who's in red-hot form

The Villans have made an approach to sign a new goalkeeper, amid doubts surrounding Emiliano Martinez’s long-term future.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

Newcastle United’s depth in attack is certainly different to what it was at the end of last season. It’s been all change in the last few months, losing Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson, and replacing them with Nick Woltemade, who has really hit the ground running, and Yoane Wissa, who has been out injured.

They also added Anthony Elanga to their depth out wide. He’s been providing competition for Jacob Murphy on the right wing, with Anthony Gordon still the first choice on the opposite flank.

The England international has been on fire in the Champions League in particular.

Another man who has shone in that competition is Harvey Barnes.

How Barnes’ Champions League numbers compare to Gordon

It has been a fast start to Barnes’ European campaign in 2025/26. He hasn’t been a regular starter under Eddie Howe this term across all competitions, but has made a great impact off the bench.

In particular, his impact on the European stage has been a real standout. Barnes has three goals in as many games, having played just 106 minutes across that trio of appearances. He’s averaging one goal every 35 minutes this season.

Those numbers stack up well against his Magpies teammate Gordon. Their number 10 does have two more goal involvements in the Champions League this season, with five to his name. However, they have come in 265 minutes, and on average, he contributes to a goal every 53 minutes, which is more than Barnes.

The former Leicester City man had a strong impact on the game against Benfica on Tuesday night. Newcastle’s number 11 struck twice off the bench to secure all three points for his side.

His second goal was teed up by Gordon and included some lovely, sharp passing before an incisive finish from Barnes.

The winger has been excellent off the bench this season, although Newcastle have a player coming through who could soon displace him.

The Newcastle sensation who can displace Barnes

Over the last few seasons, there have certainly been some exciting talents come through the academy at St James’ Park. Elliot Anderson is someone who springs to mind, and Lewis Miley is thriving in their first team today.

However, even more exciting than the homegrown pair could be South Korean under-20 international Seung-soo Park. The 18-year-old attacker has already played first-team football for Suwon Samsung Bluewings, and is now on the fringes of the Magpies’ first team after a summer move.

The youngster drummed up a lot of interest when he first moved to St James’ Park. Newcastle’s Academy Director Steve Harper said he is an “exciting” young forward, and Seoul-based writer Seung-mo Lee once explained he is “similar to [Kylian] Mbappe,” which is high praise indeed.

Well, it has been a productive start to the season for the man compared to France’s captain. He’s actually yet to get a goal or assist in eight games for the academy, but has shown plenty of promise.

The 18-year-old has been pulling off passes like this against Mansfield in the EFL Trophy, which highlights his talent.

Some of the numbers he’s been putting up have been excellent, too.

In the game against Mansfield, he completed three out of three dribbles, and in a 45-minute cameo against Union Saint Gilloise in the UEFA Youth League, he created three chances.

Park vs Mansfield & USG

Stat

Mansfield

USG

Touches

49

33

Pass accuracy

82%

75%

Ground duels won

7/12

5/7

Dribbles completed

3/3

4/6

Chances created

2

3

Stats from Sofascore

Howe seems to rate the 18-year-old, having already put him on the bench in the Premier League.

Park was an unused substitute in the season opener against Aston Villa. He also got minutes in preseason with the first team.

The South Korean talent seems to be someone whom the Magpies can get excited about. He certainly has a lot about him, with the ability to beat defenders one-vs-one and create chances in the final third.

With the likes of Barnes, Newcastle have great depth out wide, but Park will be one to keep an eye on for the future.

Related Fewer touches than Pope: Howe must bin Newcastle star who won just 3 duels

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Oct 22, 2025

Vinicius Jr’s Real Madrid future is in serious doubt after a public fallout with Xabi Alonso during El Clasico and growing frustration over his stalled contract talks. The Brazilian is reportedly eyeing a move to Paris Saint-Germain, drawn by Luis Enrique’s playing style and leadership, as relations in Madrid reach breaking point despite his recent public apology.

• Vinicius Jr’s future in doubt after El Clasico outburst

  Tension between Vinicius and Madrid boss Alonso has reached boiling point, with the Brazilian winger reportedly determined to leave if the Spaniard remains in charge next season. The rift came to light after Sunday’s 2-1 El Clasico victory, when Vinicius reacted furiously to being substituted in the 72nd minute. Cameras caught him storming off and shouting: “Always me! I’m leaving the team! I’m leaving!”

  While Los Blancos attempted to downplay the incident, reports from Spain suggest the relationship between the pair has broken beyond repair. Vinicius feels belittled and devalued” by Alonso’s approach and believes he is treated unfairly compared to Kylian Mbappe, the club’s marquee arrival and Florentino Perez’s new favourite.

  The 25-year-old has scored five goals and provided four assists in 10 La Liga appearances this season but has yet to find the net in the Champions League. Despite his contributions, tensions off the pitch are overshadowing his performances, with the player openly considering an exit next summer if Alonso remains.

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  Apology fuels speculation as Alonso snub deepens Madrid rift

  In an attempt to ease tensions, Vinicius issued an apology on social media, addressing his teammates, fans, and club president but notably omitting Alonso’s name. The winger wrote: "Today I want to apologize to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

  The exclusion of Alonso from the message has only intensified speculation of a fractured relationship. Sources close to the dressing room claim several senior players have also grown frustrated with the coach’s strict rules, with one insider suggesting Alonso “thinks he’s Pep Guardiola.”

• PSG and Luis Enrique emerge as top destination for Vinicius Jr

  According to , PSG have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Vinicius should he leave Madrid. The attacker himself is said to be intrigued by the opportunity to play under Luis Enrique, whom he admires for his charisma and attacking philosophy.

  The Brazilian reportedly believes Enrique’s fast-paced, high-pressing football would suit his strengths perfectly, and he has taken encouragement from the positive experiences that Neymar and Lionel Messi had under the Spanish tactician. Despite previous Premier League and Saudi interest, Les Parisiens remains his preferred destination due to their Champions League pedigree and tactical style.

  His contract with Los Blancos runs until June 2027, but the impasse over salary negotiations has given him leverage. Unless Madrid offer improved terms next summer, the club may be forced to sell rather than risk losing him for free a year later – a scenario that has alarmed president Florentino Perez.

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  Dressing room divide and a pivotal summer ahead

  Madrid may be winning matches, but behind the scenes, the atmosphere is tense. Multiple first-team players have questioned Alonso’s distant management style and heavy tactical discipline. The situation risks escalating further if results dip or if Vinicius pushes for a move in the summer.

  PSG are closely monitoring developments and are prepared to test Madrid’s resolve with an offer should the rift persist. For now, president Perez is backing Alonso publicly, but privately, club executives are wary of losing one of their brightest stars. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon and his prime years ahead, Vinicius Jr faces a defining decision about his future. If relations cannot be repaired, his next destination could be the Parc des Princes where Luis Enrique awaits with open arms and a project perfectly suited to his talents.

A superbly judged unbeaten century by Tom Lammonby helped Somerset maintain their excellent form with a seven-wicket defeat of Durham in the Rothesay County Championship match at the Banks Homes Riverside.The victory moves Lewis Gregory’s side up to fourth in the Division One table, although most of the other games in this round have yet to finish.Resuming on 71 for one and needing 194 more runs to clinch their third victory in succession, Lewis Gregory’s batsmen encountered few problems on a pitch where 31 wickets had fallen in two days.Instead, they reached their target in mid-afternoon having lost only two wickets on this third day. Lammonby finished on 104 not out and Tom Abell, with whom he had put on an unbroken 139 for the fourth wicket, was unbeaten on 73.Yet Durham had enjoyed the perfect start to the morning when Gregory, was caught behind by Ollie Robinson off Ben Raine for 38 in the second over of the day. But Lammonby and the new batsman, James Rew made light of that setback by adding 55 runs in 15 overs and seizing on some wayward bowling by the callow Durham seamers.Just before noon, Alex Lees brought on Colin Ackermann to bowl his off-spin from the Lumley End and this change brought a much needed breakthrough for the home side when Rew, who had looked in little trouble while making 31, chipped a half-drive straight to Lees, himself, at short extra cover.That wicket left Somerset on 128 for three but it did not halt the visitors’ steady progress towards their target. Lammonby became only the second batsman in the match to make a half-century, reaching that landmark off 70 balls and having hit five boundaries, and Durham’s need for further wickets was made plain when Raine and Mitch Killeen were brought back into the attack around 40 minutes after they had been taken off.Those bowling changes made no difference. Lammonby and Abell continued their steady accumulation, maidens were rarities and Somerset reached lunch on 174 for three, 91 short of their target, with Lammonby on 65 not out and Abell unbeaten on 20.Five overs into the afternoon session Durham threw away a faint chance to salvage the game when Lammonby was dropped on 69 by James Minto off Daniel Hogg at deep square leg, the 17-year-old shelling a straightforward chance after the ball had been pulled straight to him.That escape seemed to energise the Somerset batsmen and the remaining 70 runs came quickly. Lammonby took three fours off a Minto over and soon after reached his century off 149 balls, having hit a dozen fours. Shortly afterwards, Abell reached his fifty off 122 balls and victory was confirmed when Abell clipped Killeen through midwicket for a final boundary.On a tough day for Durham’s bowlers, Raine finished with one for 50, Ackermann one for 40 and Killeen one for 67

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is currently assessing the remainder of his squad that haven’t gone out on international duty, and the Italian has promised one thing to a highly-rated youngster who’s now looking to turn heads at Cobham.

The Blues take on Brentford in their first game back from the break, four days before a blockbuster opening Champions League game against Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge on September 17.

After a summer of trimming down Maresca’s squad, partly to comply with UEFA as Chelsea looked to register a ‘positive transfer balance’, Maresca named a 23-man squad for his European A-list — notably missing out summer signing Facundo Buonanotte.

Bomb squad members Axel Disasi and Raheem Sterling were unsurprisingly omitted, with reports still suggesting the pair could leave soon, even after the UK transfer window shut its doors at 7pm on Monday.

Disasi has been subject to an approach from Saudi side Neom SC, while former Man United chief scout Mick Brown believes Chelsea could terminate Raheem Sterling’s deal in a bid to rid the club of his £325,000-per-week wages.

As we’ve seen from the last window, you can never rule anything out at Chelsea, with Liam Delap’s injury prompting BlueCo to both re-negotiate a more favourable exit for Nicolas Jackson whilst recalling Marc Guiu from his loan at Sunderland.

The teenager was also named in Maresca’s Champions League A-list squad, so the intention to play him is crystal clear, and Guiu is believed to have received the Chelsea boss’ word on a key issue.

The former Barcelona gem was set to further his development with more guaranteed game time at Sunderland, and had already made his mark by scoring for Regis Le Bris’ side in the EFL Cup against Huddersfield Town.

Marc Guiu desperate to impress in Chelsea training after Maresca promise

Now back in west London, Guiu is desperate to impress in Chelsea training, with Maresca promising the 19-year-old that he will be handed game time in the coming weeks.

That is according to GiveMeSport, who state that the Spaniard has set his sights on dazzling Maresca behind-the-scenes as he looks to stake his claim in the Chelsea squad.

It is also noted that, if Guiu can prove to be a constant threat in the final third, then there will be a chance for him to become a prominent figure in the club’s plans moving forward.

The youngster scored six goals in seven Conference League appearances last term, playing a major role in the group stages before missing out on nearly every knockout game with a hamstring injury — bar a three-minute cameo in the final.

Who’s playing

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Delhi Capitals (DC)
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm IST

What to expect

A big win against Mumbai Indians (MI) was just what DC needed to shake off any tiredness going into the next game. They will be facing a bruised RCB less than 24 hours after their match against MI, but will have a lot to cheer about. Firstly, they are at the top of the table with eight points from six games. Their bowling in the last two games, where they’ve kept their opponents to sub-130 totals, has been quite excellent. They’ve also been among the best fielding units this tournament, with the likes of Annabel Sutherland, Minnu Mani and Jemimah Rodrigues saving a number of runs with their acrobatics on the field.RCB have lost their last three games at their home venue, but the defeat in the game against Gujarat Giants – where they were restricted to 125 for 7 “affected” them the most, captain Smriti Mandhana said after the game. There are several questions for them heading into this clash: is the batting too dependent on Ellyse Perry? Are they missing their spin trio of Asha Sobhana, Sophie Molineux and Shreyanka Patil, who were their key bowlers at the Chinnaswamy last year? Is Mandhana’s subpar form affecting them a bit too much? RCB will want to quickly find answers and give the home crowd something to cheer about for one last time this season before moving to the Lucknow leg.

Form guide

Royal Challengers Bengaluru LLL (last three matches, most recent first)
Delhi Capitals WWLMinnu Mani has had an impact despite bowling just 14 overs across five games•BCCI

Team news

RCB made one change in the last game, bringing back legspinner Prema Rawat for left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht. Rawat, however, bowled just one over in the game and conceded 19 runs.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable XI): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bisht, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Sneh Rana, 9 Kim Garth, 10 Prema Rawat/ Ekta Bisht, 11 Renuka SinghDC are likely to persist with the winning combination.Delhi Capitals (probable XI): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Marizanne Kapp, 6 Sarah Bryce (wk), 7 Jess Jonassen, 8 Niki Prasad, 9 Minnu Mani, 10Titas Sadhu, 11 Shikha Pandey

Players to watch: Minnu Mani and Georgia Wareham

Be it with the ball or as a fielder, Minnu Mani gave it her all in the game against MI. After bowling a quiet 12th over, she dealt Mumbai a double jolt in the 17th, dismissing S Sajana and Amelia Kerr. She came back to remove Sansriti Gupta in the 19th to finish with figures of 3 for 17 from three overs on a sluggish surface. Her flying one-handed stop to her right to save a boundary in the 13th over highlighted why she’s one of the best fielders going around in the circuit. She’s bowled only 14 overs across five matches and has taken five wickets. DC will want to make use of her bowling more, allowing her to bowl her full quota which she’s done only in two games this season.Georgia Wareham has picked up nine wickets so far•BCCI

Georgia Wareham bounced back well after conceding 50 runs in the first match of the season, picking nine wickets in five matches so far. She picked two crucial wickets against Giants, removing Harleen Deol and top-scorer Ashleigh Gardner, although it was a bit too late. She has played at No. 3 for Australia before – even has a half-century playing in the position – and RCB could use her as a floater in the middle order in case of early wickets.

Stats that matter

• This season’s top four wicket-takers so far – Jess Jonassen (9 wickets), Renuka Singh (9), Georgia Wareham (9) and Annabel Sutherland (8) – will be part of this match
• Meg Lanning has the most fifty-plus scores in the WPL (eight), going past Ellyse Perry
• Toss has been decisive at the M Chinnaswamy, with chasing teams winning six out of the seven games

A stronger show in the middle order could end up having a say in which way the contest sways

S Sudarshanan18-Feb-2025Who’s playingDelhi Capitals vs UP Warriorz
Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, 7:30pm ISTWhat to expect: Battle of middle-ordersThat Capitals have the most successful opening combination in the WPL meant that the middle order has escaped scrutiny. But not anymore, after they almost lost their opening fixture this season and then went down heavily to RCB. Capitals’ middle-order batters (Nos. 4 to 7) average 21.97, which is the lowest in the WPL. Jess Jonassen (13), Marizanne Kapp (12) and Jemimah Rodrigues (12) have batted the most innings in these positions for them.In stark contrast, UP Warriorz have the best average for these positions (28.44), with Deepti Sharma (14), Grace Harris (14) and Tahlia McGrath (9) being the regulars. This could partly be attributed to the fact that they have used five opening pairs across the three seasons.Related

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A stronger show in the middle order could end up having a say in which way the contest sways. Warriorz are yet to get off the mark, having lost their opening game to Gujarat Giants.Team news and likely XIsCapitals played their full-strength XI in the last outing against RCB. Expect them to go in with a similar structure that allows them batters till No. 11.Delhi Capitals (possible): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Marizanne Kapp, 6 Jess Jonassen, 7 Sarah Bryce (wk), 8 Shikha Pandey, 9 Radha Yadav, 10 Arundhati Reddy, 11 Minnu ManiWarriorz could think of getting in Poonam Khemnar to shore up the lower middle-order firepower. There could also be a case to play Anjali Sarvani for the left-arm seam angle.UP Warriorz (possible): 1 Kiran Navgire, 2 Vrinda Dinesh, 3 Uma Chetry (wk), 4 Deepti Sharma (capt), 5 Tahlia McGrath, 6 Grace Harris, 7 Shweta Sehrawat/Poonam Khemnar, 8 Alana King, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Saima Thakor, 11 Kranti GoudPlayers to watch: Shikha Pandey and Kiran NavgireOverlooked from the Indian side after the T20 World Cup 2023, Shikha Pandey continues to grab the spotlight with performances in T20 competitions around the world. After the WPL last year, she played in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League, Women’s Big Bash League and Women’s Super Smash, picking up 25 wickets across them. She’s begun WPL 2025 on the right note – keeping MI in check in the opening game and conceding runs at 6.75 runs per over against RCB even when the scoring rate was close to nine. She has been the third-most economical bowler in WPL 2025 so far.Kiran Navgire opened the batting with Vrinda Dinesh for UP Warriorz•BCCIIn the WPL, Kiran Navgire takes a liking to spin. She has a strike rate of 156.84 against spin (95 balls faced) as opposed to 106.50 against pace (123 balls) in the competition. She has been dismissed 22 times by pace and only five times by spin in the WPL. When she hit 125 not out against Arunachal Pradesh in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy earlier this season, four of her five sixes came against the spin duo of Shivi Yadav and Reetika Agarwal. Is there a case for Warriorz to bat Navgire in the middle order? Or for her to see off fast bowling and wait for spin, in case she continues to open?Key statsDeepti Sharma is one of only four players in the WPL with over 400 runs and 15-plus wickets.Meg Lanning, the leading run-scorer of the WPL, has been in a slightly lean patch in T20 cricket. She has only three half-centuries (one of them in the Hundred) and averages 21.34 since the last WPL.Since her ODI best of 3 for 62 against Australia, Saima Thakor has picked up just one wicket in nine outings across formats. She went wicketless in Warriorz’s first match.