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Chelsea need to balance the books with player sales, in light of their estimated £140 million summer transfer expenditure so far, not to mention pressure from UEFA with regard to FFP.

The Blues are set to receive a bucket-load of prize money from reaching the final of the Club World Cup, having earned a reported £80 million in total from their six games at the tournament so far, but the sheer amount of deadwood on Enzo Maresca’s books needs trimming.

"World-class" player reaches gentleman's agreement to leave Chelsea

He can depart for an obtainable fee.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 9, 2025

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys and Marcus Bettinelli all departed Stamford Bridge recently and brought in around £19 million, but there are a host of other players in line to depart the west London club.

Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja, Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke, Christopher Nkunku and Djordje Petrovic could all reportedly leave Chelsea too, but BlueCo face an almighty task to find all the aforementioned men new homes before deadline day on September 1.

Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season	Average match rating
Cole Palmer	7.33
Moises Caicedo	7.02
Enzo Fernández	6.95
Nicolas Jackson	6.88
Noni Madueke	6.82
via WhoScored

Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Madueke, and ESPN report that they could agree a £43 million deal with Chelsea by the end of this week, so as things stand, it appears that transfer could be closest to completion.

Petrovic is also attracting a lot of interest after reaching a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that he can leave Chelsea for £25 million.

The writing has been on the wall for a lot of the previously named Chelsea men for quite some time, but striker Nicolas Jackson could now join them out the door, especially after the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Jackson is “no longer” unsellable, according to multiple reports, and it shows just how quickly things can change in football. The Senegal international was branded one of Maresca’s “most important” players by pundit Joe Cole in May, but Jackson now finds himself in an increasingly precarious situation.

Nicolas Jackson could leave Chelsea in Barcelona loan deal

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona could offer the African a new temporary landing spot.

While talks between the Catalans and Maresca’s side are yet to take place, Barca have apparently “set their sights” on signing Jackson from Chelsea, amid a belief that the 24-year-old would fit perfectly into Hansi Flick’s system.

Chelsea are also said to be open to letting Jackson depart for the Camp Nou on an initial loan deal, on the condition he’s guaranteed game time, so Barca’s hierarchy are closely monitoring the ex-Villarreal gem ahead of a potential swoop.

If Barca do entertain the possibility of signing him permanently in future, perhaps at the end of his loan if he does well enough, then Fabrizio Romano reports that Chelsea have placed a £52 million price tag on his head – so Barca know exactly what it will take.

Manchester United have been extremely active within the transfer market during the summer, as the hierarchy look to back the manager in his quest for success.

Ruben Amorim took the reins back in November after Erik ten Hag was dismissed, only having the January transfer window to make the changes he desired to the squad.

However, this window presents fresh opportunities, securing the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from fellow Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford respectively.

Such dealings have seen the Red Devils already splash over £125m on new additions this summer, but their spending looks set to continue in the coming weeks.

A new striker remains a priority for the club this summer, leading to numerous players being linked with a move to join Amorim’s revival during the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on United’s striker hunt this summer

Randal Kolo Muani has emerged as a potential target for United this summer, with the Frenchman set to leave current side PSG during the off-season.

The Red Devils have reportedly prepared an offer for the 26-year-old in recent days, with the Ligue 1 outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of £39m for his signature.

However, he’s not the only name currently on their shortlist, with Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson firmly on their radar this window, according to TEAMtalk.

They claim that Jason Wilcox has been at the centre of internal talks to land the 24-year-old, after he registered 13 goals for Enzo Maresca’s side last campaign.

It also states that winger Alejandro Garnacho could be used to sweeten any deal after he was left out of the Red Devils’ pre-season tour, reducing the cost of the Senegalese international’s fee, as he’s currently valued at £80m.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect alongside Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo is an exciting talent that will hand the United side the needed attacking threat they’ve craved ahead of next season.

The Cameroonian managed to register 20 goals in the Premier League last season, a tally that was just under 50% of what the Red Devils first team managed collectively during the same period.

Despite his goalscoring tallies, he’s also impressed in teeing up his teammates, ending the most recent season with eight assists across all competitions for the Bees.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.8 chances created during the 2024/25 campaign under boss Thomas Frank, having the tools to create carnage at Old Trafford.

Such figures could hugely benefit potential new addition Jackson, with the forward potentially getting all the ammunition needed for success from the Cameroonian.

His stats from his spell at Stamford Bridge highlight the talent he possesses in the final third, certainly aiding Amorim in his quest for success during his time in the role.

Jackson, who’s been labelled a “monster” by former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel, registered 1.4 shots on target per 90 last season, playing a huge role in his tally of 13 goals across all competitions – subsequently handing the side the focal point they’ve been craving.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

15

Shots on target per 90

1.4

Pass accuracy

77%

Aerials won

38%

Touches in opposition box

6.2

Chances created

1.2

He also won 38% of the aerial battles he entered, offering Amorim’s side a focal point to play off, which could allow Mbeumo to improve his own tallies as a result.

That ability to aid United’s new man is also seen in Jackson’s statistical likeness to both Ollie Watkins and Yoane Wissa, as per FBref, two players whom Mbeumo thrived alongside at Brentford.

Indeed, the left-footer and Wissa contributed to 39 league goals between them last season, having previously scored 42 goals combined with Watkins during the 2019/20 campaign in the second tier. Could Jackson be next?

The Senegalese international’s impressive form within attacking areas is further reflected in his tally of 6.2 touches in the opposition’s box per 90, potentially being the poacher they’ve lacked since the 40-year-old’s appointment.

It may prove to be an excellent deal for United if they can land Jackson, with the forward able to transform the Red Devils’ fortunes in attacking areas – whilst also moving Garnacho out of the door in the opposite direction.

The prospect of the 24-year-old linking up with Mbeumo in 2025/26 is certainly an exciting one, certainly pushing the side in the right direction throughout the upcoming campaign as a result.

Better deal than Mbeumo: Man Utd preparing bid for "superstar" £39m CF

Manchester United appear to be making another huge move within the transfer market.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 22, 2025

A Sky Sports reporter has labelled a Leeds United sale a “done deal” after a “full agreement” was reached with the Whites.

Players who could leave Leeds this summer

Daniel Farke and the 49ers Enterprises have added to their squad already this summer with moves for Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw all moving to Elland Road.

However, there have also been some departures, with both Junior Firpo and Josuha Guilavogui leaving following the expiry of their contracts.

Huge Rothwell upgrade: Leeds make enquiry to sign "phenomenal" £30m star

Leeds United are interested in signing a star who would come in as an upgrade on Joe Rothwell.

ByDan Emery Jul 2, 2025

Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon’s loan moves have both ended, with the former of the two since moving to Rangers, and more Leeds players could depart before the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Forward Mateo Joseph has been linked with a move to Real Betis, whereas Max Wober has also admitted he has been told to find a new club this summer.

Now, it looks as if the Austrian defender has found his new club following a recent transfer update.

Wober Leeds exit a “done deal” after "full agreement” with Werder Bremen

Linked with a move to Werder Bremen, Wober’s move to the Bundesliga side is now “considered a done deal”.

That’s according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, who says that Bremen have a “full agreement with Leeds” and that Wober has agreed on a four-year deal with his new side.

Wober, a 6 foot 2 defender who can play as a centre-back or as a left-back, joined Leeds in 2023 but couldn’t help them remain in the Premier League.

Games

28

Goals

1

Yellow cards

5

Minutes played

1,837

He was loaned out to Borussia Mönchengladbach shortly after and returned to Yorkshire for the 24/25 campaign, playing nine times in all competitions. Farke did praise Wober, though, labelling him as a player with a “great mentality”.

“We knew he could play this position. He has played there for other clubs and for his country, but often more of a solid defender that closes the wings. But we have worked a lot on our offensive game with him.

“He’s perhaps not natural going forward, but he has a great mentality and always puts a shift in. If you do this, he has good technique and put a cross in, then you can effect the offence. Really good performance.”

Manchester United have now opened talks over a deal for a “world-class” Barcelona player, with the La Liga champions willing to sanction a departure this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd's summer rebuild underway

After one of the worst seasons in their modern history, no Man United player has been safe from criticism, and Jamie Carragher has suggested that Bruno Fernandes doesn’t fit into Ruben Amorim’s system.

Carragher said: “I’ve always described Bruno Fernandes as a great talent but not a great player. Where does he play?

“He’s a bit mad in that he just runs all over the place, like a kid in the school yard. The best player in the school yard doing everything but in a really poor team. I don’t think he’s ever had any discipline in those No. 10 positions.”

It has since been confirmed that Fernandes is set to remain at Old Trafford, but the rebuild is very much underway, with Matheus Cunha arriving at the start of the month, while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has also emerged as a major target in attack.

Forget Gyokeres: Man Utd have had talks to sign "world-class" £50m+ striker

The Red Devils have engaged in discussions with the entourage of a centre-forward.

ByDominic Lund Jun 10, 2025

Having been the subject of widespread criticism throughout the campaign, there have also been indications that Amorim could look to bring in an upgrade on Andre Onana this summer, and an initial approach has now been made for a Barcelona star.

Indeed, according to a report from Spain, Man United have now opened talks over a deal for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, submitting an enquiry about the goalkeeper, and they may have discovered that Barca are now willing to sanction a departure.

Onana is no longer part of Amorim’s plans, which means the manager will be tasked with bringing in a replacement, and Ter Stegen is very much of interest, although there could be competition for his signature from Galatasaray and Al-Hilal.

The German is in no rush to leave, but Joan Garcia’s arrival could unsettle him, as reduced game time may impact his chances of going to the 2026 World Cup.

"World-class" Ter-Stegen has track record of success

The 33-year-old has won 20 trophies for club and country across a glittering career, most recently playing a minor role in Barcelona’s La Liga triumph by making eight appearances throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

However, the £103k-a-week shot-stopper missed the majority of the season through injury, and given his age, there are questions over whether he would be a viable long-term replacement for Onana.

Having been lauded as “world-class” by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, Ter Stegen is clearly a top goalkeeper, but the rival interest coming from Galatasaray and Al-Hilal, rather than some of Europe’s top clubs, speaks volumes.

As such, it may be wise to go all out for a younger goalkeeper on the shortlist, having previously identified a number of potential targets.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

Torino

£17m

James Trafford

Burnley

£30m

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

?

Bart Verbruggen

Brighton

£34m

An “unbelievable” Premier League player is now ready to leave his club this summer, amid interest from Nottingham Forest, according to a report.

Forest set to bolster attacking options

Forest will be in a good position to attract some top players this summer, should they manage to qualify for the Champions League, and Nuno appears to be particularly keen on strengthening his squad in attacking areas.

With signing a new striker on the agenda, the Tricky Trees have recently emerged as potential suitors for AFC Bournemouth’s Evanilson, having shortlisted the Brazilian, alongside Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who could be available for £50m.

Not only does Nuno want to bring in a new striker, but the manager is also interested in signing a new winger, with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish of interest, while teammate James McAtee has been named as a target in attacking midfield.

Napoli and Roma chase £80k-p/w Nottingham Forest ace amid new contract talks

Forest have a battle on their hands to keep hold of one of their best attackers.

By
Brett Worthington

Apr 28, 2025

There is a feeling the midfielder could be available for £25m this summer, with Forest keen, and there has now been a new update on the City ace’s future, which suggests he may not remain at the Etihad Stadium for much longer.

According to a report from Football Insider, McAtee is now ready to approve a move away from Man City this summer, amid interest from Nottingham Forest, given that he has struggled to force his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans.

The 22-year-old has only featured sporadically this season, meaning he is eager to reignite his career, and a move to the City Ground could be on the cards, although there is also interest from the likes of West Ham United and Fulham.

By June, the Salford-born midfielder will have just one year remaining on his contract, with City keen to agree a contract extension to ensure they receive a fee that reflects his value.

"Unbelievable" McAtee needs regular game time

The former Sheffield United loanee caught the eye in the early stages of his career, picking up nine goals and three assists for the Blades during their promotion-winning 2022-23 campaign, but he has struggled to make a breakthrough at Man City.

At 22-years-old, the attacking midfielder needs to be receiving regular game time, so it is little wonder he is thinking about moving on for the good of his career, and there are plenty of indications he could make an impact at Forest.

Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap was left particularly impressed with the England U21 international after bagging a brace in his side’s 2-1 victory against Ukraine U21s earlier this season.

Delap believes McAtee can achieve great things in the game, but that will only be possible if he receives regular game time, and a move to Forest could be an attractive proposition, should they manage to qualify for the Champions League.

Well, that is about as deflating a night as Arsenal fans are going to experience this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side played host to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night, and instead of repeating the heroics of their game against Real Madrid, they seemed to just shrink.

It took all of three minutes for the visitors to take the lead through Ousmane Dembélé, and while the Gunners had a few chances of their own, the French side was undoubtedly the better team overall, taking a 1-0 lead back to Paris next week.

Arsenal's biggest underperformers against PSG

It would be fair to say that, apart from David Raya, none of the starters really stood out for the right reasons, but there were undoubtedly a few who stood out for all the wrong ones.

Indeed, with Thomas Partey forced to sit out through suspension after his daft yellow card in Madrid, Arteta’s side were forced to make some changes.

The most notable of which saw Mikel Merino play in midfield with Leandro Trossard playing as the centre-forward.

While it was Merino who saw a second-half goal ruled out for offside, Trossard had a poor night at the office and didn’t give Arsenal the out-ball his Spanish colleague has provided so well since becoming a makeshift striker.

Not only did the Belgian struggle to hold up the play but he was also missed a gilt-edged chance in the second half. Sent through on goal, the winger came close to equalising from close range but was denied fabulously by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG net.

Gabriel Martinelli was another who missed a fine opportunity to score on what was a frustrating night for the Brazilian.

Following on from his winning goal at the Bernabeu earlier this month, there was hope, if not an expectation, that Martinelli would once again rewind the clock to his 22/23 form against PSG last night, but that just didn’t happen.

While he still fulfilled his defensive duties, the Brazilian wideman was a frustrating watch in attack, failing to make the most of the few chances created for him.

Moreover, with how often Hakimi got forward, there was certainly space for him to exploit, but he just couldn’t, and then, with almost the final kick of the game, he blazed the ball into row Z.

It might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by the Independent’s Jamie Braidwood, who awarded the winger a 5/10 at full-time, and one backed up by his statistics.

For example, in his 95 minutes of action, the 23-year-old failed to find the back of the net with an expected goals figure of 1.08, took two shots off target, failed in 100% of his dribbles, missed two big chances, made just six passes, misplaced two of three crosses and was offside once.

Minutes

95′

Expected Goals

1.08

Expected Assists

0.03

Passing Accuracy

6/10 (60%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (1)

Shots On Target

1

Shots off Target

2

Dribbles (Successful)

1 (0)

Duels (Won)

5 (2)

Lost Possession

8

Big Chances Missed

2

Offside

1

However, as bad as Martinelli was, one of his teammates was even worse.

Arsenal's worst performer vs PSG

So, while a few other starters let themselves down somewhat last night, one quick glance at social media will reveal to you just who the worst offender was: Martin Odegaard.

It was a night that demanded a captain’s display, but instead of that, the Norwegian international put in what content creator Connor Humm described as a “hall of shame” performance.

The man who should be unlocking defences for the Gunners was instead completely ineffective for the vast majority of the game, and even when he did do something right on occasion, he’d only go and lose the ball or make the wrong pass right after.

It was possibly his most disappointing showing of the campaign yet, which is odd for someone who has undoubtedly been one of Arsenal’s best players of the Arteta era. However, since his ankle injury earlier in the campaign, he’s been way off it, scoring just five times in 2024/25.

While that sounds unfair, it is once again an opinion shared by the aforementioned Braidwood, who gave the 26-year-old a 4/10 match rating, while Humm further laid into him, saying that he was so anonymous at times that he may as well have just “sat in the stands.”

Unsurprisingly, such damning indictments of the captain are more than justified by his statistics, as in 89 uninspiring minutes, he amassed an expected assists figure of just 0.08 and no expected goals figure, he misplaced 100% of his crosses, didn’t take a single shot, failed in five of six dribbles and only won 25% of his duels.

Minutes

89′

Touches

42

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.08

Assists

0

Passing Accuracy

24/27 (89%)

Crosses (Accurate)

3 (0)

Shots

0

Dribbles (Successful)

6 (1)

Duels (Won)

8 (2)

Lost Possession

14

Ultimately, last night was a massive disappointment for Arsenal, and if they are to overturn PSG’s one-goal advantage next week, then Odegaard is going to have to either put in a substantially improved display or be dropped entirely.

Indeed, his performance meant the team were practically playing with ten men at the Emirates and in truth, he may not be good enough to be a regular starter anymore.

Their new Sanchez: Arsenal weighing up bid for "unstoppable" £40m star

Arsenal could sign their new Alexis Sanchez this summer.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 29, 2025

There was unbridled joy in one camp, gloom in the other. But if South Africa need any inspiration, they need to look no further than India

Sidharth Monga30-Jun-20242:23

Manjrekar: Rohit’s World Cup win a great reward for a champion cricketer

I am supposed to explain this to you?No, I don’t think you want explanations. For a while, nobody does.As I sit in the dugout vacated by the players, some uneaten nuts and unfinished bottles of energy drinks around me, I am thinking of pieces of broken heart that I can’t see. Explanations are the last thing on my mind.I can see India are hoisting Rahul Dravid up and catching him on the way down. Behind the podium, where nobody can see them, Quinton de Kock is down on his knees, playing with a little girl in a South Africa top and a pink tutu. Heinrich Klaasen is with another little girl. Daughters, I think. The partners are milling around. There is an older gentleman in a Klaasen top around. Perhaps his father. One of the partners is running after another kid with a writing tablet that looks like an old-fashioned slate.Related

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South African cricket begins the long process of pulling itself back together

South Africa were winning, then came Jasprit Bumrah

I can’t tell you how thankful I am that the families and partners can travel with the players these days. This is not going to be an easy night for South Africa. It is best they are not alone with their thoughts tonight. They had played almost the perfect game, and needed just 30 off 30. And yet, they are left with the ghosts that have haunted their cricket teams for more than 30 years.Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and the others know this feeling all too well. They have led the ODI World Cup league table – a format where you play every team once – twice but have not laid their hands on the trophy. They have been to both the WTC finals but haven’t won despite being the best Test side over the last seven-eight years.They have had sleepless nights following the last ODI World Cup in which they were unbeaten until the final. Rohit has spoken openly about how he struggled coming out of that flux. If South Africa need any inspiration, they need to look no further than Rohit, who has dusted himself off to go through it all over again. Despite the year he has had at the IPL.Rahul Dravid gets a champion’s farewell•Getty ImagesRohit is celebrating with his family, he is fulfilling his commitments as the captain. In between he has found the time to kiss Hardik Pandya on the cheek. After the year they have had. Hardik said two years ago in Australia that he has risen above the results. Then life hit back. Injuries. Ruled out of the World Cup midway. Leading Rohit in the IPL that left a sour taste in the mouth everywhere. He has bowled the slower one to get Klaasen. He has bowled the final over to seal the win.Rohit’s accomplice, Dravid, has forever seemed cursed to not win a trophy. He led India to their first Test win in South Africa, took them to series wins in England and the West Indies after decades, brought about a philosophical shift in the way they approached the game, but he is remembered for his failures. Even as a coach, despite being the master team-builder that he is, Dravid has had no titles to show for. Even at the IPL. Now he is exulting.They didn’t have the perfect team. They have made it perfect. They have picked two left-arm-spin allrounders. Not perfect but they want depth in both batting and bowling. Crucially, they have managed to free Kohli of the in-born notion in champion competitors that they can’t leave the job for someone else. They have managed to convince him T20 is not a sport for the main characters.Kohli has bought into it. He has taken the walk-on part in a war ahead of the lead role in a cage. His innings in the final, we can discuss another day. It is almost identical to what he scored in the 2014 final, which India lost, but that batting depth of India has allowed him to repeat it. Rohit works a lot with analysts but he also believes in runs on the board in finals. So perhaps he has a higher tolerance for Kohli delaying the trigger in the final.Kohli is retiring from T20Is with a Player-of-the-Final trophy. Rohit too. Kohli slips out of the celebrations and pulls out his AirPods. They connect just in time for him to take the call. He is visibly talking to one of his children: he is making faces and gestures you make to babies. He has earned everything a man could wish for, he has carried Dravid’s work forward in Tests to an extent Dravid himself couldn’t, but for 13 years he has not been part of a team that has had a world title.Tabraiz Shamsi lets the emotions sink in•ICC/Getty Images”I believe in destiny,” Rohit says when asked if he had begun to start doubting that good things happen to good people. “This was written. Of course, we didn’t know before the match that this was written, otherwise it would be so easy. That [to keep doing your best not knowing what’s written] is the game.”Now tell me how I am supposed to explain this to you. Those who were there have been reduced to talking about destiny. The closest thing to an explanation is that the scrappy side with more multi-skilled players beat the one with specialists who, barring one or two, are perhaps more suited to the format. The much-ridiculed depth, for which India have tried to accommodate many an allrounder who was not ready, has trumped.South Africa, like the Mumbai Indians of 2013, are bossing the game with six gun batters and five full-time bowlers. Except they are against what looks like a scrappy Mumbai Indians of 2017 with plenty of multi-skilled options. Rohit has led both kinds of teams. His experience tells him to just hang in for longer than many would. In a 17-year career, he has seen T20 matches turn on much less than two Jasprit Bumrah overs.In the end, it has come about in a messy manner. They don’t take the braver option when at crossroads with the bat, which they have done almost all tournament. Kuldeep Yadav has had a tough day. Axar Patel, the unsung hero so far, is taken for 24 in his final over.The ball is reversing, even if slightly; hitting down the ground is easier; and they just move those fielders cutting singles straighter. It still shouldn’t work but it does. Sport is messy. Hardik is bowling only wide outside off, trying to stay away from Klaasen. Not looking for a wicket. On another day, he doesn’t get the edge to finish off the game. Here he does.Rohit ends up prone on the ground, slapping it in pure joy. Sport is a messy thing. It has played with Rohit’s spirit again and again before he can finally say: “This is what I wanted. I wanted to win the cup and say…” He doesn’t say anything. He just salutes a goodbye.It has played with South Africa here, but like Rohit and Kohli and Bumrah and Hardik, they must dust themselves off and give themselves the chance again. In the words of Rohit, that is the game.

“To be involved in a team like this for 100 games is ridiculous,” says tone-setting opener

Matt Roller19-Jun-2022The romantic outcome in Jason Roy’s 100th ODI appearance would have been for him to score a hundred and walk off unbeaten. But perhaps his dismissal for 73 off 60 balls, slicing a catch to short third man, was a better reflection of his England career.Roy was visibly frustrated, swiping at the air in frustration, but his attempt to hit the fifth boundary in Aryan Dutt’s over and thereby kill off the run chase demonstrated the selflessness that has made him such an invaluable player in Eoin Morgan’s side over the past seven years: team first, personal milestones second.In the 2019 World Cup, when his return to the side after a hamstring tear revitalised England’s faltering campaign, it was a similar story: 66 off 57, 60 off 61 and 85 off 65 in three consecutive must-win games, all dismissed while playing attacking shots. “He intimidates bowlers,” Morgan said after his return against India. “He’s a gun player.”Related

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Phil Salt, Jason Roy fifties lead England to victory and 2-0 series lead over Netherlands

Phil Salt on fast track behind trailblazer Jason Roy

He was certainly intimidating against Netherlands on Sunday, crunching five boundaries in the first nine balls he faced to get England ahead of the required rate and remove any semblance of scoring pressure at the start of their chase, racing to a 43-ball half-century. By the time he was dismissed, the required rate was down to a formality at 4.08 per over.It would have been difficult to fathom at the end of Roy’s first ODI innings that he would reach this landmark: after his debut in Ireland was washed out, he flashed his first ball in the format to backward point as a prelude to England racking up their first-ever 400-plus total in 50-over cricket against New Zealand.He managed only 98 runs across the course of that series but, crucially, he bought into Eoin Morgan’s vision of an all-guns-blazing approach. “He didn’t score a run,” Paul Farbrace, England’s interim coach in that series, recalled, “but because he kept attacking, kept playing in the right way for his role in the team, he was kept in.”Roy has come in and out of form over the years, most notably in the 2017 Champions Trophy when he was dropped from the side after a lean run of form and looked as though he would struggle to regain his place. But his first two innings back after Alex Hales’ involvement in the infamous Bristol brawl were 84 off 66 and 96 off 70, and he has rarely looked back.”To be involved in a team like this for 100 games is ridiculous,” he said after Sunday’s game. “To be so happy every time you go into a changing room and buzzing and feeling enjoyment is a really incredible feeling. Whether I got 70 or 0, today would have been an extremely special day.”Jos Buttler with his 150th ODI cap and Roy with his 100th•Getty ImagesRoy was presented with his 100th cap by Moeen Ali in the England huddle and said the speech had been “very good”, to the extent that he was on the verge of tears. “He’s the perfect guy to give it to you because you’re not judged by your cricket in this group,” Roy said. “You’re judged as a person, the energy you bring and how hard you work. If he went on for a minute longer, there might have been a tear or two, but he stopped just in time.”His legacy with England’s white-ball set-up is personified by Phil Salt, who spoke after Friday’s first ODI about the influence that Roy’s approach has had on his career. “He’s a very relaxed guy, works extremely hard and whacks the ball hard,” Roy said. “For him to say that is obviously a great honour but makes me feel old as hell.”Roy’s 100th cap was a family affair, not least with Shane Snater, his cousin, in the Netherlands team. Snater dismissed him with a nip-backer through the gate on Friday – “he did buy me a drink… it’s water under the bridge,” Roy said with a smile – and took the catch to dismiss him on Sunday, but only after being slashed away for two boundaries.His wife, Elle, was in Amsterdam this weekend and was at his cap presentation before racing to the nearby Schiphol airport to catch a flight home, thereby missing his innings. “She’s seen enough of that,” he said. “Extremely proud to have her and my little one there to mark the occasion. It was really, really special.”Roy spent two months at the start of the English summer away from the game and with his family after a mystery fine for undisclosed misconduct earlier in the year, the details of which remain unclear several months later. He declined to comment, but said the incident had not been discussed and that he had benefitted from his decision to pull out of the IPL and skip the start of the county season.”Unfortunately, I can’t talk about it,” he said, “but it’s not been spoken about since it came all out. I was able to enjoy my training, my family time and enjoy normal life for a couple of months. [The break] definitely benefitted my game. Things mentally weren’t right with me at the PSL. I was in a weird place because I was playing good cricket but I wasn’t enjoying myself, I wasn’t happy and it was just a dark time.”It was just a good two months to come home and live a normal life for a bit after a tough couple of years with a lot of months away – over 50 days of hotel quarantine the year before and then having a child in January and having to spend time away from him was just a bit too much.” Thankfully for England, he seems to be back towards his belligerent best.

Nothing sets the mood for playoff baseball quite like a Capital One ad.

As the Blue Jays were two outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1993, the Fox broadcast cut to an advertisement for Capital One, a move that did not gel well with the built-up tension for fans watching at home. Check it out below:

The importance of each pitch in playoff baseball, let alone in the ninth inning of Game 7 in the American League Championship series, is impossible to overstate. So viewers were not happy about the interruption, to say the least:

Toronto prevailed in the end, shutting the door on the Mariners in a 4-3 win thanks to George Springer's electric go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. Springer's dinger powered the Blue Jays to overcome homers from Seattle stars Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh earlier in the game.

Game 7 of the ALCS lived up to the hype despite the vibe killer of an ad during the ninth inning. Let's all hope Fox learns from its mistakes during the World Series, where the Blue Jays are off to meet the defending champion Dodgers in a Game 1 slated for Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

Postseason baseball is the best, with drama on each pitch. Let's keep it that way.

أعلن الألماني هانز فليك، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، عن قائمة فريقه لمواجهة نظيره ريال بيتيس ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ويحل فريق برشلونة ضيفًا مساء اليوم السبت، على نظيره ريال بيتيس، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، موسم 2025/2026.

وتأتي تلك المباراة في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني هذا الموسم، على ملعب “لا كارتوخا”.

ويتواجد برشلونة في صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 37 نقطة، في حين أن ريال بيتيس لديه 25 نقطة بالمركز الخامس.

ويفتقد برشلونة خدمات داني أولمو بعدما تعرض لخلع في الكتف خلال مشاركته في مباراة الجولة الماضية ضد أتلتيكو مدريد.

اقرأ أيضًا | تشكيل برشلونة المتوقع أمام ريال بيتيس اليوم في الدوري الإسباني

لكن شهدت القائمة عودة فيرمين لوبيز وفرينكي دي يونج أخرى بعد الإصابة التي تعرضا لها خلال الفترة الماضية، الثنائي يمثلان قوة كبيرة في خط وسط برشلونة. قائمة برشلونة لمباراة ريال بيتيس في الدوري الإسباني

في حراسة المرمى: خوان جارسيا – فوتشيك تشيزني – إيدير ألير.

في خط الدفاع: بالدي – كوبارسي – كريستنسن – جيرارد مارتن – كوندي – إيريك جارسيا – خوفري.

في خط الوسط: فرينكي دي يونج – بيدري – فيرمين لوبيز – كاسادو – بيرنال – درو فرنانديز – تومي.

في خط الهجوم: فيران توريس – ماركوس راشفورد – روبرت ليفاندوفسكي – رافينها – لامين يامال – روني باردجي.

Our squad for Matchday 15! #BetisBarça ✈️ pic.twitter.com/lrCUMGxQzZ — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 6, 2025