Category Uncategorized

They haven’t won every game, but this season is shaping up to be a truly special one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has got his side playing some sensational football at times while simultaneously ensuring they remain the best defensive team in the Premier League.

It seems like every player, new and old, is all pulling in the exact same direction and helping each other reach new levels.

One of the team’s best players in recent weeks has been summer signing Eberechi Eze, and so fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal with someone who could be another version of the Englishman.

Arsenal target another Eze

There was tremendous excitement from the Arsenal fan base when it was announced that the club had signed Eze, and understandably so.

Transfer Focus

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

After all, here was a player who many considered to be one of the most exciting in the Premier League, and had just spearheaded Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory.

Fortunately, while it took him a few games to get up to speed, the 27-year-old has more than delivered so far this season, racking up a tally of nine goal involvements in 19 games for the club and scoring that North London Derby hat-trick.

So, with all that in mind, it’s not all that surprising to hear that the Gunners may be after another player who has the potential to be another Eze in Kenan Yıldız.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Turkish wonderkid.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are going all out to sign him and have been in contact with his representatives.

However, Juventus are understandably keen to keep hold of the incredible youngster and, according to other reports from earlier this month, would need a fee of at least £88m to consider selling him.

Therefore, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Yıldız’s ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be another Eze.

Why Yıldız would be another Eze

Now, there are obviously some key differences between Yıldız and Eze, such as their age, but there are also more than a few similarities between them.

For example, like the Englishman, the young Turkish superstar is an attacker who can and does play in a multitude of positions.

Since making his first team debut for Juventus, the 20-year-old monster has played as a second-striker, on the left and right wings, in attacking midfield and even up top a few times.

The second similarity is that, like the former Palace star, he is a dual threat, someone who is as happy scoring a goal as he is assisting one.

For example, in 52 appearances last season, totalling 3520 minutes, he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 2.47 games, or every 167.61 minutes.

Yıldız’s recent form
Season	24/25	25/26
Appearances	52	18
Minutes	3520′	1457′
Goals	12	5
Assists	9	5
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Then this season, he has become even more dangerous, scoring five goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances, totalling 1457 minutes, which is a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 145.7 minutes.

Finally, and this is related to his output, the 26-capped international is, in the words of content creator Alex Moneypenny, “capable of the spectacular.”

He doesn’t just score tap-ins; he already has quite the impressive catalogue of goals, ranging from long-distance strikes to ones stemming from brilliant close control.

It is also this ability to create magic on the football pitch that likely led European football writer Danny Corcoran to describe the youngster as having “Mbappe-like ability.”

Ultimately, it won’t be an easy transfer to get done, but Arsenal should be going all out to sign Yıldız in 2026, as he could be another Eze.

A Saka & Olise hybrid: Arsenal in contact over signing £70m "superstar"

The incredible talent would be as game-changing for Arsenal as Bukayo Saka has been over the years.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 5, 2025

The Baltimore Orioles have designated veteran starter Kyle Gibson for assignment after a brutal start to the 2025 campaign, according to a report from Bob Nightengale of

Gibson signed a one-year deal worth $5.25 million this spring, but after four starts amassed an 0-3 record with 23 earned runs across 12.1 innings (16.78 ERA).

The 37-year-old Gibson is one of several Orioles starters who have struggled to get going this season, and his release is the latest in a series of moves for Baltimore this weekend, with the headliner being the firing of manager Brandon Hyde on Saturday after six-plus seasons leading the franchise.

Entering Sunday, the Orioles are 15-29 on the season, and sit in last place in the American League East, 10 and 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Yankees.

Big picture

So far in the Asia Cup, things have gone roughly as expected. India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have all registered comfortable victories, and Pakistan have also avoided an early banana peel. But Saturday brings up a more even clash. Over the last few years, T20 matches between these teams have sometimes been explosive, but although the heat of the rivalry has died down a little, it is also clear that these are well-matched teams in this format. Over the last 10 years, Sri Lanka have won eight of their 16 encounters, and Bangladesh eight.Related

• Asalanka: We are T20 Asia Cup defending champions

• Hasaranga fit for Sri Lanka's Asia Cup campaign

• Why are Sri Lanka and Bangladesh so poor at T20I batting?

• Hridoy hits back at critics as Bangladesh opt for safety over speed

More recently Bangladesh have had the better run, winning 2-1 in Sri Lanka in July, having also beaten Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup last year in Dallas. In those matches, Bangladesh’s bowlers tended to strike early, and find wickets regularly. Sri Lanka hope their batting order is in a better place now. But it was less than two weeks ago that they collapsed to 80 all out against Zimbabwe.Bangladesh also have the advantage of having played a match at this venue already. Their crushing of Hong Kong on Thursday was a largely complete performance, with the seamers getting wickets and the top order unfussily taking the team home in a modest chase. There were also wickets for legspinner Rishad Hossain, who was excellent against Sri Lanka in their most recent series, going at only 5.47 an over in his 12 overs across three matches.This being the group of death – Afghanistan are the other top-10 team vying for a Super Four spot – whichever team loses here will ride a treacherous road to qualification.Wanindu Hasaranga is set to return after missing the tour of Zimbabwe with a hamstring injury•AFP/Getty Images

Form guide

Bangladesh: WWWLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: WLWLL

In the spotlight: Litton Das and Pathum Nissanka

Bangladesh captain Litton Das needs 56 more runs to become Bangladesh’s most prolific T20I batter. He is clearly one of Bangladesh’s key T20I batters at the moment, having hit 476 runs this year at a strike rate of 137.17. He also top-scored for Bangladesh in that series in Sri Lanka. Given his experience, he is the Bangladesh batter that will worry Sri Lanka’s bowlers the most.Pathum Nissanka is having a fine T20I year himself, having made 230 runs at a strike rate of 147.43 in 2025. That Sri Lanka have been a significantly improved team in the powerplay is down partly to Nissanka’s improvements. He has opened up new parts of his game, and has become particularly severe on errors of length. In Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka lost the only match in which he didn’t get to 30.

Pitch and conditions

The Abu Dhabi pitch tends to be batting-friendly, though occasionally it will have something for the slower bowlers as well. Rain is not forecast on Saturday.2:05

Jaffer: Hasaranga’s return big boost for SL

Team news: Hasaranga set to return

Bangladesh will likely keep the same XI that beat Hong Kong. That means they will likely play three frontline seamers.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Pervez Hossain Emon, 2 Tanzid Hasan, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Jaker Ali, 6 Shamim Hossain, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said Wanindu Hasaranga should be available to play on Saturday, after Hasaranga had missed the Zimbabwe series with a hamstring injury. He also suggested Sri Lanka could go in with three frontline seam options. If fit, Dushmantha Chameers seems a certainty, with Asalanka stating that Nuwan Thushara would also play. Binura Fernando may just have the edge over Matheesha Pathirana for the last spot.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Binura Fernando, 11 Nuwan Thushara.

Stats and trivia

• Pathum Nissanka needs 50 more runs to complete a tally of 2000 in T20Is. He has played only 67 innings, which means he has eight innings in which to get those 50 runs and become the fastest Sri Lanka men’s batter to the milestone. Kusal Perera got there in his 76th innings.
• Litton Das has not been dismissed for less than 50 in his last four T20I innings, making 54*, 18*, 73, and 59, against Netherlands and Hong Kong.
• Even just in Asia Cups, these teams’ record is pretty even. Bangladesh won the first T20I Asia Cup match between them, in Mirpur in 2016. Sri Lanka won the next one, in Dubai in 2022.

Quotes

“It’s more of a rivalry for the fans. For us as players it’s just good challenging competition.”
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka on the rivalry between these teams

Arshdeep Singh is learning how to enjoy the “boring times” in red-ball cricket and has spent the last few months working on his “mindset” as he tunes up for the upcoming season.Arshdeep, 26, is currently playing for North Zone in the Duleep Trophy match against East Zone in Bengaluru, his last competitive game before the 2025 Asia Cup, which begins on September 9 in Abu Dhabi.”In Test cricket or red-ball cricket, there is a time when the day gets boring,” Arshdeep said. “In the session after lunch, mostly the ball doesn’t do anything. So, how can you enjoy that?”I spoke to [Mohammed] Siraj and he told me that when nothing is happening, how you enjoy that phase would tell you how successful you could be in red-ball cricket. He gave me this small tip. I really liked it.”Related

• From Lonavala to the limelight – Vicky Ostwal eyes step up across formats

• Mohammed Shami revs it up on red-ball return

• Meet the spinner known as Manishi

• Danish Malewar's bright start and big ambitions

• Auqib Nabi shakes up the Duleep Trophy with four wickets in four balls

Before this, Arshdeep last played competitive cricket at IPL 2025, where he finished as Punjab Kings’ highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets in 17 matches. He earned a maiden Test call-up for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and was in contention to make his debut in the fourth Test, but injured his bowling hand and was ruled out.Having gone close to three months without a game, Arshdeep put in a long shift on the second day, bowling 17 overs, the most by any North Zone bowler. While he only got one wicket, he “felt really good” with the number of overs he got in.”In the last couple of months I was with the team, I trained a lot, bowled a lot and worked a lot with the S&C [strength and conditioning],” Arshdeep said. “I worked on fitness as well and that helped me bowl a decent long spell. After 15-17 overs, my body feels well. It’s [the ball] coming out really well. Not many wickets but yes, they will come as well in the future.”India fast bowlers Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Mohammed Shami share a light moment•PTI

Did it get frustrating at any point in England, having to spend almost two months on the sidelines? How did he keep himself motivated?”When you are not playing, you just try to push your limits. The training is almost the same,” he said. “You just put in more work when you are not playing. More overs, more strength work, more training, so that whenever you get the chance, you are ready and fully fit to go.”I don’t know how many thousands of balls I would have bowled in practice. It’s not like there was a lack of bowling. I was properly managing my workload. The aim is to stay ready whenever you get a chance.”Arshdeep will have to make a quick switch to white-ball cricket, with the Indian team slated to reach Dubai for the Asia Cup preparations on September 4. The fast bowler, however, doesn’t feel the switch to T20 cricket will be tough, and insists it is all about adaptability.”Right from the last Test [at The Oval], I had started practising with a white ball,” Arshdeep said. “I didn’t know that there was a Duleep Trophy match in between. At the end of the day, red ball, white ball or pink ball, you have to play cricket and try and enjoy it.”I have got a chance here [at the Duleep Trophy], will play with a white ball next [at the Asia Cup]. So the aim is to put in a lot of overs under your belt and play any format. The mindset is about how quickly you can adapt. In today’s cricket, a batsman can hit against the red ball and he can play conservatively against a white ball.”So, it’s all about how you can adapt according to the situation, according to the wicket, according to the weather, when you have to put in effort, when you have to conserve yourself.”India’s first game at the Asia Cup is against UAE on September 10. They will play Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19 before the Super Four round gets underway from September 20.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has heaped praise on an “important” member of the squad following his return from injury.

Chelsea face Premier League title rivals Liverpool amid selection crisis

The Blues have endured a pretty underwhelming start to the 2025/2026 campaign, and it doesn’t get any easier as Maresca’s side prepare to host Premier League champions Liverpool this afternoon.

Maresca, after winning the Conference League, Club World Cup and qualifying for the Champions League last season, has been tasked with building upon 2024/2025’s feats with over £280 million spent on new recruits in the summer window.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

However, he is also forced to lean on a roster full of youth and a starting eleven boasting an average age of just 24.1 (BBC), with injuries crippling the tactician so far.

As October arrives, Chelsea’s absentee list includes Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Trevoh Chalobah and star forward Cole Palmer — who are all set to miss today’s clash with Arne Slot’s side at Stamford Bridge.

Fofana and Tosin are not expected to return until after the international break, with the former undergoing concussion protocol, while Chalobah is serving a one-match suspension after his red card against Brighton last weekend.

Colwill is set to miss the majority of this season after rupturing his ACL in pre-season too — leaving Maresca absolutely bereft of centre-backs to choose from against Liverpool — with it being most likely that Benoit Badiashile and Jorrel Hato are given the starting nod.

Badiashile has only just returned from injury himself, starting his first game of the season in a 1-0 Champions League win over José Mourinho’s Benfica on Tuesday, and the Frenchman impressed.

Reports suggest that Chelsea insiders have pushed Badiashile’s case behind-the-scenes as a capable deputy to come in and play a significant role, despite being linked with a move away last summer.

The 24-year-old’s presence, amid Chelsea’s serious defensive shortage, now looks more imperative than ever, with Badiashile refusing a move away in the last window and declaring his love for the West Londoners.

The former Monaco star’s loyalty is being repaid by Maresca, who piled praise on Badiashile in his pre-Liverpool press conference.

Enzo Maresca praises Benoit Badiashile return as "good news" for Chelsea

Speaking to reporters, Chelsea’s boss confirmed that Badiashile is in fact an “important” player for them, and his return to the fold is “good news” ahead of their challenging face-off against England’s champions.

Unfortunately for Badiashile, his place in the starting eleven is under threat long-term.

According to reports, Chelsea and Maresca are in agreement that the signing of a star centre-back takes “priority” for January.

Meanwhile, it is also believed that Chelsea have reached out to Marc Guehi’s camp this week and could attempt to re-sign the Crystal Palace star for a cut-price fee in the winter.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly a massive admirer of one France international star, who sporting director Andrea Berta has already led an approach to sign, according to a new report.

Arsenal make Premier League return away to Fulham

Arsenal return to Premier League action this weekend with a trip to Fulham, a fixture that offers the Gunners a golden chance to extend their impressive seven-game unbeaten run and solidify their position at the top of the table.

Since their narrow 1-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier in the season, Arsenal have been near-unstoppable, navigating all competitions without tasting defeat – a testament to their growing maturity under Arteta.

This unbeaten streak has been built on a foundation of solid defensive performances and a willingness to battle to the end, with Arsenal’s blend of youthful energy and experienced leadership helping to power them through tough fixtures.

Arsenal’s dramatic 2-1 win away to Newcastle was testament to this, with defender Gabriel clinching all three points through a last-minute header which silenced the boisterous St. James’ Park crowd.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions

Competition

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Premier League

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Champions League

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Premier League

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Carabao Cup

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Premier League

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Champions League

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Premier League

Arteta’s side now sit pretty at the Premier League summit, taking advantage of big-spending Liverpool’s slip in momentum, but Marco Silva’s Fulham won’t be pushovers this weekend.

The West Londoners will be looking to spoil Arsenal’s rhythm on their home turf. Silva’s men have shown resilience this season, despite finishing last summer’s transfer window as the top flight’s lowest-spending team.

Team

Spent

Received

Net Spend

Brentford

£85,000,000

£134,000,000

-£49,000,000

Brighton

£69,000,000

£133,000,000

-£64,000,000

Crystal Palace

£47,000,000

£63,000,000

-£16,000,000

Aston Villa

£37,500,000

£47,000,000

-£9,500,000

Fulham

£34,500,000

£9,000,000

£25,500,000

via Every Premier League Club’s Net Spend

In truth, Silva has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget during his time at Craven Cottage, and Arsenal have won just one of their last four meetings against Fulham — including a draw and a defeat the last two times they travelled to play them.

As Arteta prepares for a tough test, Berta is working on the club’s squad long-term.

The Italian has already tied down Gabriel and William Saliba to long-term contracts since his arrival in March, with talks held over extensions for Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.

Berta, despite a big-spending summer, could also enter the transfer market once again.

Arteta is a "huge" fan of Khephren Thuram with Arsenal approach made

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, as written in a piece for TBR Football, Arteta is personally a “huge” fan of Juventus star Khephren Thuram, who’s worked his way into the France national team squad after an excellent start to the season in Turin.

The 24-year-old is now deemed “untouchable” by Igor Tudor’s side alongside Kenan Yildiz, with Bailey reporting that Arsenal had a summer approach knocked back for Thuram as well.

The former Ligue 1 sensation racked up 10 goal contributions in 35 Serie A appearances for Juve over his debut season, leaving little wonder that the Old Lady are desperate not to lose him.

Even though Berta has already signed Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard to bolster Arsenal’s midfield, the latter will stay for a maximum of three years before potentially returning to Brondby in Denmark, as confirmed by the player himself.

Thuram would be an exceptional long-term replacement for Norgaard, and amid reports Arsenal are looking at signing another midfielder to challenge Zubimendi, perhaps Berta could test Juve’s resolve in 2026.

Unbroken stand of 249 with Chris Benjamin lifts visitors from trouble at 137 for 6

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-May-2025Grant Stewart posted a brilliant swashbuckling hundred to inspire a notable Kent fightback on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship match against Gloucestershire at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol.Their backs firmly against the wall after being reduced to 137 for 6, the visitors were indebted to the seventh-wicket pair of Stewart and Chris Benjamin, who staged a revitalising unbeaten stand of 249 in 56 overs to rescue a parlous situation. Stewart registered a career-best score of 173 not out from 174 balls with 19 fours and five sixes, while Benjamin contributed a cautious yet chanceless 82 not out, hewn from 212 deliveries with five fours, as Kent reached the close on 386 for 6.Stewart and Benjamin made history in the Bristol sunshine, establishing a record seventh-wicket stand in all matches for Kent, eclipsing the 248 scored by Arthur Day and Punter Humphreys against Somerset at Taunton in 1908. It was a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after Gloucestershire’s bowlers had dominated the first few hours, Ajeet Singh Dale claiming 4 for 97 and Tom Price and Josh Shaw weighing in with a wicket apiece to justify captain Cameron Bancroft’s decision to bowl first.If Kent mindsets were fragile following defeat by an innings and 161 runs at the hands of Glamorgan last time out, Gloucestershire’s bowlers certainly took full advantage. But the visitors will now feel they have the upper hand after Stewart and Benjamin turned the tables in such comprehensive fashion, banking three batting bonus points which had appeared beyond them earlier in the day.Requiring a solid start, Kent achieved exactly the opposite, Harry Finch pursuing Shaw’s second delivery of the day outside leg stump, offering a tame catch to James Bracey behind the stumps and departing for 1. That set the tone, Tom Price sending down four maidens in five overs that yielded just one run as Ben Compton and Daniel Bell-Drummond fought to see off the new ball.Their resistance quickly crumbled in the face of a fiery spell from Singh Dale, who generated impressive pace to remove both in the space of seven balls from the Ashley Down Road end. Bell-Drummond miscued an attempted drive and spooned a catch to mid-on, while Compton, having taken 19 balls to get off the mark and demonstrated no little application in moving his score to 19, drove loosely at a delivery that pitched outside off stump and was pouched by the diving Bracey as Kent slipped to 36 for 3.Jack Leaning never looked comfortable, was squared up by Singh Dale and sent a looping catch to Bancroft at second slip, at which point Singh Dale boasted figures of 3 for 22 from five overs. The only one of Kent’s top-order batters to play with any authority, Tawanda Muyeye raised 25 from 37 deliveries with four fours before edging a ball that nipped off the seam to the reliable Bancroft at second slip, affording Tom Price the wicket his accuracy deserved. In urgent need of a stabilising influence, the visitors were grateful to Benjamin and Jaydn Denly, who ensured they reached lunch without further loss on 85 for 5.Looking to play positively, England Under-19 batsman Denly helped himself to a sumptuous cover-driven four at the expense of Tom Price to signal a change in momentum as Kent’s first innings realised three figures in the 33rd over. Failing to maintain the tight lines that had characterised their work in the morning, Gloucestershire’s seamers were powerless to prevent the sixth wicket pair adding 63 in 15.3 overs.Singh Dale returned to break the partnership, beating Denly for pace with a ball that ricocheted off bat and pad and hit the top of off stump. Denly had mustered 39 from 51 balls and accrued six fours and was just two runs adrift of his highest first-class score when he departed with the board on 137 for 6.Surviving Singh Dale’s second spell, Benjamin and Stewart found the going easier thereafter as the pitch flattened out and the shine disappeared off the ball. Adopting a forthright approach from the outset, Stewart was prepared to take risks and looked to get on the front foot and drive whenever possible. He was first to 50, attaining that landmark via 51 balls as Kent passed 200. The Italy international pulled Graeme van Buuren for six to add to his half dozen fours as the visitors reached the tea interval on a relatively healthy 225 for 6 at the end of a session that had yielded 140 runs for the loss of just one wicket.Adopting a more circumspect approach, the assured Benjamin raised a half century of his own, carefully crafted from 129 balls, as the seventh-wicket alliance continued to prosper into the final session. The hundred partnership occupied 177 balls, at which point Bancroft recalled the talismanic Singh Dale. Although he went past the bat on several occasions, the 24-year-old paceman was unable to provide the breakthrough Gloucestershire coveted.Strong off his legs, Stewart positively rushed to the second first-class hundred of his career, edging Zaman Akhter to the fine leg boundary to raise three figures via 120 balls with his twelfth four. He hooked the next ball to deep midwicket and was caught by Tom Price, only for the unbalanced fielder to step over the rope and concede a six, an act which saw Stewart improve upon his previous highest score of 103 made against Middlesex at Canterbury in 2018.Gloucestershire took the new ball as soon as it became available, but were unable to curtail Stewart’s lusty hitting, the 31-year-old by now scoring at better than a run a ball to progress to his maiden 150 from 152 deliveries as Kent reached the close resurgent. Stewart and Benjamin had already set a new record seventh wicket partnership for Kent in matches against Gloucestershire, surpassing the unbeaten 151 posted by Derek Ufton and Alan Dixon at the Mount in 1960.

England A 317 for 4 (Scholfield 138*, Capsey 108) trail Australia A 343 (Trenaman 77, Ginger 54, Knott 52, Faltum 52, Wong 5-63) by 26 runsPaige Scholfield and Alice Capsey seized the initiative in the unofficial women’s Test in Sydney with a fourth-wicket stand of 210, as England A’s batters built on a bowling effort led by Issy Wong’s five-for to move towards a first-innings lead on the second day at Cricket Central.Both batters made centuries in the course of a dominant day’s work, and by the close, Scholfield was still going strong on 138 not out, with England A well set on 317 for 4, trailing by 26 runs with two days of the contest remaining.After extending their overnight 315 for 7 to a first-innings total of 343, Australia A seemed to have taken charge when England slumped to 34 for 3 in reply. Lauren Cheatle had a role in each of the three wickets, first by catching Mady Villiers at fine leg in Tess Flintoff’s first over of the innings, and then in bowling Hollie Armitage and Grace Scrivens in consecutive overs.But Capsey and Scholfield turned the momentum of the innings in a boundary-studded 52-over alliance that spanned the afternoon session. Capsey swept and pulled Sophie Day for four fours in an over as England pushed on at a brisk tempo, and they weren’t parted until Maitlan Brown trapped Capsey lbw for 108, with the deficit already reduced to double figures.Scholfield, however, found another solid ally in Jodi Grewcock, with whom she saw out the rest of the day in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 73. Grewcock reached the close on 29 not out from 84 balls, with three fours.Earlier, England had needed 10 overs to pick off the remaining three wickets of Australia’s first innings, for the addition of 28 runs. Grace Potts grabbed two of these, including the final wicket of Sianna Ginger for 54, but the key moment came when Wong fired a yorker through Lilly Mills’ defences to pick up a well-deserved fifth wicket.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Grêmio anunciou na última quinta-feira (6), a contratação do atacante Iturbe, de 30 anos. Após finalizar os exames médicos, o jogador assinou contrato com o Imortal, até dezembro de 2023, com opção de renovação por mais uma temporada. O Lance! mostra a trajetória do argentino, mas naturalizado paraguaio.

Livres no mercado! 20 jogadores sem clube que mudariam o seu time de patamar

Iturbe começou a sua carreira no Cerro Porteño, em 2016, sendo tratado como uma joia do futebol paraguaio, sendo até mesmo comparado com Lionel Messi pelo estilo de jogo e porte franzino. Logo que completou 18 anos, foi comprado pelo Porto, tendo a sua primeira experiência na Europa.

No entanto, jogou apenas 11 partidas pelo clube português e passou a acumular passagens por River Plate, Verona, Roma, Bournemouth e Torino, até ir para o futebol mexicano, onde teve mais sucesso. Atuou por Pachuca e Tijuana, mas foi no Pumas onde encontrou o seu melhor momento na carreira.

Luan, Soteldo, Nikão… Veja 10 jogadores que estão fora dos planos em seus clubes no Brasil

Pelo clube mexicano, fez 93 partidas e marcou 12 gols, tendo certo destaque no time. No começo de 2021, acabou acertando com o o Aris, da primeira divisão da Grécia. Lá, porém, teve bons e maus momentos, realizando 78 jogos, sendo 41 como titular, e marcando apenas oito gols em três temporadas.

Histórico em seleções

Na base, Iturbe jogou pela seleção da Argentina, chegando inclusive a disputar um Mundial Sub-20 e dois Sul-Americanos. Em um deles, marcou um golaço que garantiu uma vitória sobre o Brasil, em 2011. Na época, a Seleção Brasileira tinha nomes como Neymar, Casemiro e Oscar no plantel.

Tendo muita concorrência no ataque argentino, Iturbe passou a defender a seleção do Paraguai, país-natal de seus pais. Sua primeira convocação para o selecionado foi em 2016. Porém, não rendeu o esperado. Até aqui, não marcou nenhum gol pelo Paraguai e não joga pela seleção desde 2019.

Chelsea fans will be very encouraged by the start their side has made to the brand new Premier League season.

Enzo Maresca’s Blues were in speculative conversations last campaign about a surprise title push, but that did unfortunately fall to the wayside. However, with two wins and a draw from their opening three contests this time around, the West London outfit is one of the early pace-setters.

New signing up top in Joao Pedro has already set the league alight donning Chelsea blue, with five goals from his first six outings.

Yet, Liam Delap doesn’t continue the good news here when it comes to exciting attacking additions, with a nasty injury now keeping him sidelined after the 2-0 victory over near neighbours Fulham.

This could well trigger Chelsea into being active yet again in the striker department, as a £69m ace comes onto their radar.

Chelsea enter late race for £69m striker

The former Manchester City attacker could well be out for a prolonged period of time, with a fear he might be out for even more than the early estimate of six to eight weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

As a result, Nicolas Jackson – who was due to sign for Bayern Munich on loan – has been told to return from Germany and not undergo a medical. Yet, he is understandably hesitant to return to Stamford Bridge as a back-up option. Consequently, Maresca and Co. could now have to try and strike up an extremely late deal for a rising star.

Indeed, as per an update from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the unbeaten Blues have now made an approach to sign Sporting youngster Conrad Harder, with Chelsea on the hunt for a Jackson replacement, to then allow for that choppy move to finally occur.

RB Leipzig are also in the hunt for Harder; however, who has a whopping £69m release clause next to his name.

How Harder can become Maresca's own Gyokeres

If Chelsea can get a late move over the line, it might culminate in the West London outfit winning their very own Viktor Gyokeres, as another clinical Sporting attacker is gifted the grand opportunity to impress in the Premier League.

Gyokeres might well have struggled on his debut versus Manchester United, but he is now up and running in Arsenal red and white after bagging two strikes versus Leeds United, resulting in his trademark celebration coming out for all to see at the Emirates.

It felt like only a matter of time before the explosive Swede was going to grace the pitches of the English top-flight, having fired home a ridiculous 97 strikes for the Portuguese titans from just 102 clashes, after waving goodbye to Coventry City after a goal-laden stint in the EFL.

Of course, it’s ludicrous to insinuate that a far younger and rawer Harder will become this lethal overnight.

But, there is a method to the madness here, considering the 20-year-old Dane has already been heralded as the “next Gyokeres” by Scouted Football, on top of also being lauded as a “complete forward” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Harder’s league numbers (24/25)

Stat

Harder

Games played

28

Games started

6

Minutes averaged

28

Goals scored

5

Assists

5

Goal scoring frequency

159 mins

Big chances created

6

Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, despite only starting six Liga Portugal clashes last season, the lively Scandinavian had a mightily impressive five goals to shout about, meaning he notched up a league goal for the Lisbon-based giants every 159 minutes.

But, even more impressively, despite only averaging 3.8 accurate passes per substitute cameo, Harder also tallied up five assists, with Gyokeres further known for this unselfish side to his varied game, having closed out his own time in Portugal last season with 11 assists in all competitions.

In the wake of Delap’s untimely injury, on top of Jackson’s future being up in the air, Harder might well finally be gifted the platform to be a leading man for a top side, with more goals and assists perhaps ready to come to the surface to elevate him even more to Gyokeres’ insane level.

Having once been dubbed “aggressive” by ex-Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, it remains to be seen whether the 20-year-old can be a success in such a demanding league.

It feels like a risk worth taking for Maresca and Co., though, as Harder and Gyokeres potentially go head-to-head to fire their respective sides to domestic glory.

Related Chelsea now in talks to sign £35m "1v1 specialist" forward alongside Lopez

The Blues could trigger the release clause for a new attacker.

Posts ByDominic Lund Aug 31, 2025