Georgia Plimmer’s 53 off 44 and an all-round show from Amelia Kerr secured a eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Sharjah, though the margin of victory was not enough to move New Zealand up to second; they remain third in Group A behind second-placed India on net run rate. For Sri Lanka, it’s a fourth defeat in four despite this being their best showing of the tournament with the bat; they finish bottom of the group.Set a target of 116, Plimmer and Suzie Bates gave New Zealand the ideal start with a 49-run opening stand, before Kerr joined Plimmer for a 46-run partnership to put the result beyond doubt. Sophie Devine then put the boosters on to close out the chase, finishing the game with monster six over cow corner.Kerr had earlier notched figures of 2 for 13, including the prize scalp of Chamari Athapaththu, as Sri Lanka were restricted to 115 for 5 in their 20 overs. Plimmer was named Player of the Match for breaking the spine of the chase, though Kerr’s impact cannot be overstated.Assured Plimmer kills them softlyThere were only four boundaries in Plimmer’s half-century but yet she ended her innings striking at 120. That was largely down to the learnings several sides are now internalising about how to play on the low and slow tracks in Sharjah.Georgia Plimmer set the pace in New Zealand’s chase•ICC/Getty Images

Her innings was replete with 26 singles and four twos, as Sri Lanka’s bevy of spinners were negotiated expertly. This wasn’t death by killer blow, rather one by a thousand cuts. At the end of the power play New Zealand were 35 for no loss, just one more than Sri Lanka, but by the 10th over the run rate had risen to 6.9 per over.Plimmer eventually fell holing out to deep midwicket, but at 95 for 2 at the end of the 15th over her work was largely done.Athapaththu drives Sri Lanka’s best startAfter three successive failures, Athapaththu finally managed to get some runs on the board, and with it provided Sri Lanka with their first good start of the tournament with the bat.Chamari Athapaththu ably held up her end•ICC/Getty Images

Her 35 came off 41 deliveries, not express by any means, but understandable considering the conditions in Sharjah as well as the shaken confidence of Sri Lanka’s batting unit. With the ball still holding up in the surface and keeping low, Athapaththu was forced to wait for the bad deliveries to notch any quick runs, with a couple of exquisite cover drives the pick of her five boundaries.During her stay she put on stands of 26 and 48 with Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama, to give Sri Lanka their best poweplay of the tournament – 34 for 1, which in itself speaks towards Sri Lanka’s batting troubles – and left them on a decent platform of 57 for 1 at the halfway point of the innings.Can’t keep Kerr out of the gameWith the Athapaththu-Samarawickrama partnership blossoming, a pair of boundaries off Eden Carson and Lea Tahuhu in the 12th and 13th overs signalled Sri Lanka’s intent to up the scoring rate. Enter Amelia Kerr.Amelia Kerr followed up her 2 for 13 with 34 not out off 31•ICC/Getty Images

The legspinner was coming of the back of a four-for in her last game, but here she had to wait until her third over to make any significant impact. But what an impact that was as, following a period of concerted pressure, Athapaththu looked to drag one over cow corner from outside off only to find her off stump knocked back.That wicket in hindsight was the first thread to come loose in Sri Lanka’s unravelling. At the fall of Athapaththu’s wicket Sri Lanka had 74 runs on the board and a little over six overs left in the innings – but they were just unable to push on from there, spluttering to 115 for 5 by the end of the innings.Kerr was a major factor in this as her four overs gave up just 13 runs and also included the wicket of the dangerous Kavisha Dilhari. And if Sri Lanka thought they’d seen the last of her, she struck an unbeaten 34 off 31 with the bat to ensure the win that she herself had set up.

Stokes backed for return to form in New Zealand with short turnaround between tours

Matt Roller27-Oct-2024Brendon McCullum, England’s coach, said that Ben Stokes is “hurting” after struggling to make an impact in their 2-1 series defeat in Pakistan, but has backed his “tough bugger” captain to return to his best in New Zealand next month.Stokes returned from two months on the sidelines with a torn hamstring ahead of England’s second Test in Multan last week but failed to contribute as Pakistan staged their comeback. He apologised to his players for losing his temper following a string of fielding lapses in the second Test, bowled 10 wicketless overs in the series, and made 53 runs in four innings, with two slapstick dismissals.After England’s nine-wicket defeat in Rawalpindi, Stokes said that the last three weeks had “felt like a very long tour” due to his intense rehabilitation, which McCullum suggested had inhibited his performance both as a batter and as a captain.Related

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“That injury was quite a significant injury,” McCullum said. “He had to work incredibly hard to get back. As the driven athlete he is, he’s all in when he does something. He had to put in a lot of graft there, and subconsciously, it can… not cloud things, but maybe you’re not quite as screwed down as you can be in terms of decision-making.”That’s natural, as long as you learn from that and make sure next time you’re presented with that situation you’re able to block out the noise and stay crystal clear in the moment. He’s disappointed, but he’s our skipper and we know he’s a tough bugger. He’ll make sure he’ll come back and it’s our job to make sure we wrap our arms around him and help him along the way.”The series defeat was only England’s second since Stokes took over from Joe Root as captain two-and-a-half years ago, but both have come in the subcontinent this year. The first, a 4-1 loss in India, prompted McCullum to call for “refinement” ahead of England’s home summer, but this time there is only a short turnaround before their three-match series in New Zealand.Ben Stokes could not exert his usual influence, despite winning the toss in Rawalpindi•Getty Images

McCullum said it would be his own responsibility to ensure that England’s management are consistent in their messaging. “We all know how competitive and driven the skipper is,” he said. “He’ll be hurting right now, with how the series has unfolded. It’s my job to make sure I’m there to support him, and make sure we still remain on-task with what we are trying to do as a collective, and our messaging to the group about how we want to keep playing cricket moving forward.”Sometimes as leaders, if you do suffer a little bit of disappointment yourself, it can be very easy to allow that to permeate through in your messaging to the group. But since Stokesy came on board as captain, he’s been very clear and precise about how he wants his team to play.”What’s really important is to never flinch with that and stay true to it, even if you’re struggling yourself. You’ve still got to keep using the same messaging. He’ll be better for the run, no doubt: a couple of weeks off, freshen up and back to conditions which are a bit more similar to back in England. It’s another opportunity for us.”England have lost six of their eight Tests in Asia this year, and are not due to return to the subcontinent until a two-match series in Bangladesh in February 2027. McCullum said the team would look back with “disappointment” and this tour and that their method in spin-friendly conditions needed to be “a little bit better” than it has been”If we’re being honest with ourselves, we’ve had opportunities to put up a better record than that, so it’s disappointing,” McCullum said. “You don’t get too many opportunities to nail down big series in the subcontinent. We’ve had those chances, and we weren’t quite good enough.”I know we don’t come back to the subcontinent for a couple of years, but there’s still times even in other countries when we’re presented with spinning wickets, and we’ve got to make sure our approach is a little bit more screwed down, a little bit better than it is. That will be some of the conversations we have.”It’s a matter of trying to get that environment to a place where it’s confident, it’s clear and the messaging is very simple. With failure, sometimes it brings about a little bit of deeper thought and that’s something we’ll have to do over the next little while.”We’ve also got a very quick turnaround for the New Zealand series, but we have to make sure we’ve learned some lessons from this and be better when we get the chance. That’s the nice thing: we do get an opportunity, and it would be nice to bounce back in New Zealand.”

Leeds United enjoyed a wonderful season last term when they raced to a staggering 100 points to win the Championship title under Daniel Farke.

The Whites earned promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking with the German head coach, having lost to Southampton in the play-off final in 2024.

It is now up to the former Norwich City boss to show that he can keep the team in the top-flight, though, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Marcelo Bielsa.

The West Yorkshire outfit finished ninth in the Premier League in the 2020/21 campaign, their highest finish in the football pyramid in the last 20 years, and Farke knows that he needs more attacking options to repeat that feat, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin one player who is set to arrive on a free transfer.

Leeds needs to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch to ensure that they have enough firepower to avoid relegation, and potentially push for the top-half like they did in Bielsa’s first season in the league.

In the summer of 2020, Victor Orta made sure that the Argentine boss had the quality he needed by signing brilliant Brazilian forward Raphinha.

Leeds hit the jackpot with Raphinha

There is an argument to be made that the left-footed star is the best signing that the Whites have made in modern history, or at least since 2020, as his quality on the pitch was pivotal to their success.

Leeds reportedly paid an initial fee of £17m to sign the winger from Rennes in 2020, and it is fair to say that he more than paid back that fee with the value he provided on the pitch.

Raphinha scored 17 goals and created 22 ‘big chances’, per Sofascore, in two seasons in the Premier League during his time with Leeds, in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns, helping them to avoid the drop both times.

The mercurial attacker made a huge impact at the top end of the pitch to win vital points for the team to ensure that they did not get relegated, with goals and assists to secure draws and wins.

Appearances

30

35

Goals

6

11

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

12

10

Key passes per game

2.1

1.9

Assists

9

3

Dribbles completed per game

1.9

1.8

As you can see in the table above, Raphinha provided a consistent threat in possession with his goals, assists, dribbles, and key passes in the top-flight.

Barcelona then swooped to sign the winger for a fee of £55m in the summer of 2022, and Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in the following season. This speaks to how important he was to the side, and why the Whites have not had a signing as successful as him since.

Leeds are likely destination for experienced centre-forward

The West Yorkshire outfit may have a chance to land their best signing since Raphinha, though, as a fresh report has emerged on their interest in a new striker.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Qatari paper Al Kass, as relayed by Globo, Leeds United are the most likely destination for Al Hilal centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer.

The report claims that the Saudi Pro League team are willing to pay the striker the £21m they owe him for the last three years of his contract in order to allow him to find a new club.

It states that the recent arrival of Darwin Nunez from Liverpool has left Mitrovic as a disposable member of Simone Inzaghi’s squad, opening the door for Leeds to make a move for him.

The outlet is not clear on whether Al Hilal would still demand a transfer fee for the Serbia international, paying up his contract to allow him to negotiate lower wages elsewhere, or if he will be available for nothing, as it had been reported earlier this summer that they wanted a fee of £26m for his services.

Why Mitrovic would be the best signing since Raphinha

As aforementioned, Raphinha was such a successful signing for the Whites because it was his attacking quality in the final third that won vital points for the team with goals and assists to help the team avoid relegation.

You only have to look at what happened after he moved on from Elland Road to understand how important the winger was for the team, and Mitrovic is a player who has the potential to be just as impactful for Leeds.

The Al Hilal marksman, who was described as an “absolute monster” by Saudi Arabian news journalist Matt Monaghan, has the goalscoring pedigree to come in and be the main man at the top end of the pitch for Farke, scoring enough goals to fire the team to safety.

Mitrovic, who once scored a staggering 43 goals in one season for Fulham during his time in England, has enjoyed a sensational time in front of goal with Al Hilal, who may only be replacing him because of his age, as Nunez is four years younger than him.

Sports editor Henry Hill once described the 30-year-old centre-forward as a “prolific” player for club and country, and his statistics back that claim up.

Appearances

28

23

xG

26.60

17.41

Goals

28

19

xG on target

26.26

22.12

xA

2.48

1.33

Assists

5

2

As you can see in the table above, Mitrovic found it almost too easy to score goals in the Pro League for Al Hilal, outperforming his xG in both of those seasons and almost averaging a goal every game.

Along with his phenomenal output in Saudi Arabia, the Leeds transfer target has also scored 62 goals in 100 matches for Serbia at international level, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he is a prolific scorer for club and country, as claimed.

These statistics show that the Serbian star, who scored 111 goals in 206 games for Fulham, has the ability to be a consistent and prolific goalscorer for Leeds, having proven himself in England, in Saudi Arabia, and at international level.

This means that Mitrovic could win vital points for Leeds on a regular basis by scoring goals that earn draws and wins to keep Leeds in the Premier League, much like Raphinha did in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns.

Way better than Calvert-Lewin: £50m star is the top target for Leeds

Leeds United’s number one transfer target is a way better option than Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

2 ByDan Emery Aug 12, 2025

That is why the Al Hilal forward would be the club’s best signing since Raphinha, because they have yet to bring in an attacker with the quality to make as big of an impact as the Brazilian did during his time at Elland Road.

Carlo Ancelotti discussed his future with the Brazil national team beyond the 2026 World Cup as the legendary ex-Real Madrid boss revealed if he plans to stay as Selecao coach after the tournament is over. Ancelotti signed a one-year contract with CBF in the summer after leaving Los Blancos at the end of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign. He was replaced by Xabi Alonso at Santiago Bernabeu.

Ancelotti ready to extend his stay as Brazil boss

The Italian coach claimed that he would be willing to stay as Brazil manager beyond the 2026 World Cup if the CBF offered him an extension. In the summer, Ancelotti penned a one-year contract, which will run until the end of the Selecao's campaign in North America next year.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAncelotti is loved by Brazil stars

Brazil footballers have accepted Ancelotti's leadership in the national team, with stars like Bruno Guimaraes and Luis Henrique publicly stating that the Italian's "fatherly approach" has won over the entire squad. So far, under Ancelotti's tutelage, the five-time world champions have played four matches, out of which they won against Paraguay and Chile, drew against Ecuador and lost to Bolivia.  

What did Ancelotti say about his future?

Speaking to , the Italian coach said, "Yes, I wanted to coach the Brazilian national team (since 2023). Preparing for the World Cup for Brazil is something special. I signed a one-year contract. After the World Cup, everything is open. I think it was right at that time to sign a one-year contract. I have no problem if the CBF wants to continue. There's no problem. As I said, I'm very happy here, my family is happy too. We can think about it. We have time to talk about it, I have no problem continuing. It would be nice (to stay until 2030)."

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AFPWhen is Brazil playing next?

Brazil are scheduled to face Asian giants South Korea and Japan in friendly matches during the international break next month.

The 2024/25 season was a campaign where West Ham United struggled in front of goal. Of course, it was not exactly plain sailing last season, with two different managers taking charge at the London Stadium. Yet, the 46 goals scored by the Hammers last term is certainly a disappointing figure.

That has not been helped by the fact that the East Londoners lost one of their main creative sources this summer. Mohammed Kudus joined London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a £55m fee. Losing a player as influential as the Ghanaian in the final third was certainly a blow to the Hammers.

After the sale of the versatile attacker, West Ham are linked with a new forward who could step into the shoes of Kudus next season.

West Ham’s Kudus replacement

Although it is a shame that Kudus’ time at the London Stadium has come to an end, it does mean that Graham Potter can sign an attacking player of his own to the Hammers squad, with Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes emerging as a leading target.

The £50m-rated Saints starlet isn’t the only option being considered, however, with Simon Jones of The Mail reporting that the Hammers are one of the sides in the race to sign Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Facundo Buonanotte.

Transfer Focus

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

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They are said to be ‘showing interest’ in a move for the forward, who the Seagulls ‘are prepared to allow’ a loan move for.

This will not be a straightforward deal to complete. The 20-year-old is subject to interest from Bundesliga sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. Reports earlier in the summer suggested that a €40m (£34m) price was quoted to Dortmund for a permanent move.

However, a loan is more likely now, with Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, and Spurs all interested, too.

Why Buonanotte would be a good signing

Despite their relegation last term, Buonanotte spent the entirety of the 2024/25 season on loan at Leicester City. He impressed for the Foxes in spite of their poor form, and it is clear to see why the Hammers would like to add him to their ranks.

The 20-year-old attacker, who can play as a number ten or off the right, played 35 games for the Foxes last term. In that time, he managed to find the back of the net six times and assist a further three goals.

The former Rosario Central star has also shone for the Seagulls in limited opportunities. He’s played 50 times, but featured for just 2493 minutes, the equivalent of 27 full 90-minute games. In that time, Buonanotte has bagged five goals and assisted two.

Replacing Kudus will not be easy for the youngster, but perhaps his “left foot made of gold”, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig, will help him.

Indeed, the former Hammers attacker was praised for his “wand of a left foot” by TNT Sport commentator Don Hutchison back in 2023.

Kudus actually had a similar season to Buonanotte last term. In 35 appearances across all competitions for the Hammers, the 25-year-old scored five goals and grabbed four assists.

Like the Brighton star, he played on the right-hand side, as a number ten and also on the left.

The underlying stats between the two players from last season are neck and neck, too. For example, Buonanotte averaged 1.42 key passes and 3.2 progressive passes per 90 minutes.

In comparison, new Spurs man Kudus averaged 1.08 key passes and 2.74 progressive passes each game.

Buonanotte and Kudus key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Buonanotte

Kudus

Goals and assists

0.41

0.28

Key passes

1.42

1.08

Progressive passes

3.2

2.74

Goal-creating actions

0.3

0.35

Ball recoveries

4.67

4.79

Stats from FBref

All the evidence suggests that Buonanotte could indeed become Potter’s new Kudus next season. The youngster is remarkably similar when it comes to the data, and the fact that both are number ten’s with a deadly left foot further upholds the comparison.

Even though this is likely to be a loan deal, it could be a fantastic piece of business for the Hammers and the perfect Kudus replacement.

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West Ham United supporters are demanding that their team be busy in this transfer window.

So far, the Irons’ biggest move in the market is selling Mohammed Kudus to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £55m which, fair to say, has not gone down well!

The arrival of full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters have done little to quell the anger in East London, with Graham Potter in desperate need of reinforcements, but are the Hammers set to make a new signing, reminiscent of Jarrod Bowen’s arrival five years ago?

West Ham's search for a new goalkeeper

There are plenty of areas of the West Ham squad that could do with improving this summer, one of which is certainly goalkeeper, as outlined by the table below.

Minutes

2,260

18th

1,160

22nd

Saves

77

15th

50

21st

Save %

64.3%

20th

74.6%

2nd

Goals conceded per 90

1.63

6th

1.63

7th

Clean sheet %

20%

13th

15.4%

17th

Post shot xG – goals conceded

-2.6

36th

+1.6

12th

% of crosses prevented

3.8%

21st

4.5%

18th

Punches

10

17th

9

19th

High claims

15

19th

9

24th

Average SofaScore rating

6.87

34th

7.08

18th

As the table shows, neither the form of Alphonse Areola nor Łukasz Fabiański was particularly impressive last season, both ranking generally pretty lowly for the vast majority of metrics.

Despite actually seeing fewer minutes, the Polish international’s numbers were more impressive, but the 40-year-old has been released this summer, leaving the French World Cup winner as the current number one. He started Saturday’s Premier League Summer Series clash with Manchester United, but the Irons are seemingly targeting an upgrade.

That’s because, as noted by Will Unwin of the Guardian, the Hammers are targeting a move to sign Sheffield United goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

West Ham had previously been ‘interested’ in signing Mads Hermansen from Leicester City, but have now turned their attention to Cooper, who Alan Nixon and Henry Tomlinson of the Sun claim is valued at around £15m by the Blades.

Transfer Focus

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

So, could he soon swap South Yorkshire for East London?

How Michael Cooper would improve West Ham

After beginning his senior career at Plymouth Argyle, making 161 appearances for the Pilgrims, Cooper joined Sheffield United for a reported fee of £4m just last summer and certainly impressed at Bramall Lane.

After his debut, Cooper featured in 46 of Sheffield United’s 47 EFL Championship fixtures, including the gut-wrenching play-off final defeat to Sunderland at Wembley, with Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout heralding his “incredible” form in the past.

Meantime, Nancy Frostick of the Athletic labels him a ‘strong all-rounder’ who is ‘capable of game-changing saves’ as well as boasting ‘effective distribution’, forecasting that he is ‘destined for great things’.

His statistics in the Championship certainly support these assertions.

Saves

109

8th

Save %

79.6%

2nd

Clean sheets

21

2nd

Clean sheet %

48.8%

3rd

Post-shot xG – goals conceded

+6.5

5th

% of crosses prevented

9.6%

1st

High claims

54

1st

Average SofaScore rating

7.19

4th

As the table outlines, Cooper ranks highly for all goalkeeping metrics included, most notably shot-stopping and high claims, statistics that weren’t particularly impressive when it came to West Ham’s current goalkeeper Areola.

He would not be the first player West Ham have signed from the EFL in recent times, as documented below.

Crysencio Summerville

2024

£25m

22

James Ward-Prowse

2023

£30m

67

Maxwel Cornet

2022

£17.5m

37

Saïd Benrahma

2020

£26m

155

Jarrod Bowen

2020

£22m

238

Jordan Hugill

2018

£10m

3

Marko Arnautović

2017

£20m

65

Robert Snodgrass

2017

£10m

86

Fair to say, West Ham have spent plenty of money signing EFL stars in recent years, a few of which have been massive flops; looking at you, Maxwel Cornet and Jordan Hugill!

Unquestionably, however, the best signing of them all is the £22m spent to bring in Jarrod Bowen from Hull City in January 2020.

Now the club captain, Bowen has scored 74 goals in 238 appearances for the Irons, most memorably bagging the winner in the Europa Conference League Final against Fiorentina in Prague, securing the club’s first major silverware since winning the FA Cup in 1980.

Speaking to Goal, Michail Antonio jokingly stated that Bowen “needs to leave”, given that he is just 12 goals behind Antonio’s all-time Premier League goals record for the club of 68, a record he’s expecting will be broken this season.

So, while Cooper will have to go a long way to have the impact in East London that Bowen has had, the goalkeeper certainly has the potential to be another transformational signing, especially when considering the Hammers’ ongoing issues in that position.

Better move than Wilson: West Ham open first talks to sign "exciting" CF

West Ham are looking to sign a striker or two this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 28, 2025

Only Jake Fraser-McGurk and AB de Villiers have scored faster List A centuries

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Dec-2024

Anmolpreet Singh has played for MI and SRH before, but went unsold at the latest IPL auction•AFP/Getty Images

Anmolpreet Singh, the Punjab top-order batter, has gone into the record books for hitting the third-fastest List A century, his 35-ball effort putting him at No. 3 on the all-time list. Only Jake Fraser-McGurk (29 balls) and AB de Villiers (31) sit above him.Walking out at No. 3 against Arunachal Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare Trophy game in Ahmedabad after the fall of captain Abhishek Sharma in the second over, Anmolpreet got to his century with 11 fours and eight sixes. While all the Arunachal Pradesh bowlers went for plenty – left-arm spinner Hardik Verma was the most economical at 9.52 – he took a special liking to offspinner Techi Neri, who conceded 31 runs in his only over.Thanks to Anmolpreet’s blitz, Punjab overhauled Arunachal Pradesh’s 164 in just 12.5 overs for a nine-wicket win. Anmolpreet finished with 115 in 45 balls, hitting one more six and one more four after crossing the three-figure mark. Abhishek’s opening partner Prabhsimran Singh was the other unbeaten batter with a relatively sedate 35 in 25 balls.De Villiers had broken the record for the quickest List A century – it’s still the fastest ODI century – when he scored 149 in 44 balls for South Africa against West Indies in Johannesburg in January 2015. That broke the List A and ODI record of 36 balls, by Corey Anderson of New Zealand against West Indies in 2014. De Villiers’ List A record stood till Fraser-McGurk took just 29 balls to get there for South Australia against Tasmania – in a losing effort – in the Marsh Cup in October 2023.Anmolpreet, who has in the past played for Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL, though with moderate returns, went unsold in the latest IPL auction.

Everton’s new ownership have wasted no time flexing their financial muscle in this summer’s transfer market.

The Friedkin Group, fresh from completing their takeover of the club, have already sanctioned high-profile deals – most notably a season-long loan for Manchester City star Jack Grealish.

They’ve also added 22-year-old French striker Thierno Barry in a £27.6 million move from Villarreal and made Carlos Alcaraz’s loan from Flamengo a permanent deal.

It’s a window that has seen a shift in ambition at Goodison Park. David Moyes, back in charge for his second stint, has been given resources that far exceed the budgets of recent seasons.

Everton are now positioning themselves to compete for targets that would have been considered out of reach not long ago. Yet the Merseyside club aren’t finished.

Reports in Italy and England claim Everton have sounded out a forward with genuine pedigree. A towering, left-footed centre-forward whose physicality and presence evoke memories of Goodison cult hero Duncan Ferguson.

Like Ferguson, he has an uncompromising edge to his game, and relishes aerial duels.

While Everton’s new No. 9 Barry will be learning the ropes in the Premier League, this potential arrival could bring not only goals, but valuable advice for the Frenchman’s development.

Everton make approach for Serie A striker

According to journalist Sébastian Vidal, that target man is none other than Juventus forward Dusan Vlahović.

The Serbian international, still just 25, has been on Everton’s radar since the opening weeks of the window. With a reported price tag of around £26m, his signing would represent a major coup.

According to Vidal, Everton made a “big move” for the former Fiorentina man, only for Vlahović to turn it down, signalling his intent to see out his contract in Turin.

Juventus finished last season in fourth place with 70 points, securing a return to the Champions League after missing out the previous year.

Transfer Focus

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

Vlahović was a key contributor, registering 10 goals and four assists in Serie A, and adding two goals in three matches at the Club World Cup.

Valued at €35m (£30m) by Transfermarkt – down from a peak of €85m (£73m) in 2022 – Vlahović still carries a reputation as one of Europe’s most complete strikers. If they can change his mind, Everton would be securing a significant coup…

Why Vlahović could have been Ferguson’s heir

Standing at 1.90m, he combines physical dominance with a sharp football brain, able to drop into channels, hold up the ball, and turn defenders with deceptive agility.

He’s particularly effective inside the penalty area, where his movement pins defenders before he darts into space to meet a cross or latch onto a through ball.

According to data from FBref, his 2024/25 campaign underlines his all-round ability: 14 goal contributions in 29 games, 1.3 shots on target per 90, and 2.1 shot-creating actions.

He wins nearly half of his aerial duels, while his dribbling and link-up play allow his side to retain possession in high-pressure areas.

It’s no surprise ournalist Emmet Gates previously described him as a “Ferrari” with the potential to be “a generational talent.”

For Everton, the attraction goes beyond numbers. There’s a symbolic appeal – a forward with Ferguson’s stature, swagger, and menace.

The fans still idolise “Big Dunc”, who scored 60 of his 68 Premier League goals in Everton colours and was handed “Everton Giant” status in 2011.

Ferguson, at 1.93m, made a career out of bullying centre-halves, thriving in physical contests and using his body to protect the ball.

Vlahović mirrors that approach, but with a modern twist – adding superior ball-carrying ability, more varied movement, and a knack for combining with runners from deep.

Both are left-footed, both thrive in the air, and both carry a streak of competitive aggression that unsettles opponents.

For Everton, this was not just a chase for a name, but for a tactical fit.

Moyes’ system demands a focal point up top – a striker who can bring wide players and attacking midfielders into the game, hold possession under pressure, and still carry a goal threat in and around the box.

Vlahović would have ticked every box, and his presence could have eased the adaptation period for Barry, giving the youngster a role model in training.

The refusal doesn’t spell the end of Everton’s ambition in this window.

With funds available and a clear strategy, the club are already assessing alternatives who can deliver a similar blend of physical presence and finishing ability.

They may yet return for Vlahović if Juventus’ stance changes later in the summer, particularly if the player has a rethink about his next career move.

For now, the Friedkin Group’s intent is clear.

Landing Grealish, strengthening across the spine of the team, and targeting players of Vlahović’s calibre signals a club aiming to leave behind years of underachievement.

Supporters, long starved of a side capable of competing for Europe, have reason to believe this is the start of something more ambitious.

While Vlahović won’t be walking out in blue this weekend, the fact Everton were in the conversation for a player of his quality says plenty about the club’s new trajectory.

He's like Dibling: Everton looking at signing "special" £35m English star

Everton target former Chelsea and Arsenal star after Dibling pursuit goes cold.

ByWill Miller Aug 15, 2025

He will again team up with Matt Kuhnemann for defending champions Brisbane Heat

AAP14-Dec-2024Mitchell Swepson is eyeing the BBL as his last chance to push for a Test return in Sri Lanka, with Australia’s hopefuls left to make their case with the white ball.Swepson and Brisbane Heat team-mate Matt Kuhnemann are vying to be on the plane to Sri Lanka in January, with two Tests on the spin-friendly Galle wicket.Australia’s domestic schedule means that by the time of the next Sheffield Shield game, the second and final Test in Galle will have already started.Related

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While Nathan Lyon will be the first-choice spinner, Sixers spinner Todd Murphy is expected to join him as a second offspinner.Kuhnemann, Swepson and Melbourne Renegades’ Adam Zampa then loom as options if Australia play a third spinner, given their ability to turn the ball the other way.Melbourne Stars pair Glenn Maxwell and Beau Webster could also find themselves on the tour, given they can play as offspinning allrounders.Webster has been released from Australia’s Test camp to play in Sunday night’s BBL opener against Perth, while Maxwell is still out with a hamstring injury.”Playing for Australia is always the goal I am striving for and while I’m not sure how many spinners they are going to take on that tour I would love to be a part of it,” Swepson told AAP ahead of the Heat’s title defence. “All the Shield games are done now [until February] and the BBL is all we have in front of us.”I’m not sure they will pick blokes based on the BBL but bowling well in any format helps.”Swepson and Kuhnemann both have Test experience on the subcontinent, with Swepson playing previously in Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2022.  He didn’t play on Australia’s last trip to Asia in 2023, with Kuhnemann instead impressing in that year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Swepson has 17 wickets in the Shield for Queensland this summer and Kuhnemann has 18 for Tasmania.Swepson, 31, said he was a better bowler now than when he played Test cricket in 2022.”I know when to attack, when to hold and defend and when to play a role the team requires,” he said.  “This is my 10th year playing for Queensland and I think that experience has really  helped me.”Both the Tests I played in Sri Lanka were in Galle and they both are again. I felt like I bowled pretty well and that might hold me in good stead.”Over in those sub-continent conditions they lean more towards the finger spinners so I know I have that up against me, but I think that as a legspinner I also get my accuracy as close to a finger spinner as possible.”Kuhnemann, 28, is now with Tasmania after leaving Queensland to get more overs in Shield cricket.”For me, the pinnacle is red-ball cricket. If my red-ball game is going well, then that looks after my white-ball cricket,” Kuhnemann said. White-ball cricket I am pumped at. I have been pretty good the past few years. Hopefully, I can add a few strings to my bow.”Whenever a subcontinent tour comes around, all the spinners around the country get excited and come out of the woodwork a bit.”

MatériaMais Notícias

A criação da liga de clubes do futebol brasileiro é um dos temas frequentes na Sports Summit, eventoque reúne a indústria do esporte em São Paulo nesta semana. Em palestras distintas nesta quarta-feira, executivos da LaLiga e da Liga Portuguesa falaram sobre o tema e defenderam a importância da união entre os clubes.

Octavi Anoro, diretor internacional da LaLiga, foi o primeiro a falar. O dirigente reiterou não poder fazer uma recomendação sobre o processo que está acontecendo no Brasil, mas argumentou que a venda centralizadados direitos televisivos centralizadas permite um crescimento sustentável para o produto, beneficiando todos os clubes.

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– Consideremos que é necessário centralizar os direitos audiovisuais, pensar de forma coletiva.Isso irá multiplicar a arrecadação. É preciso construir um produto digital, adaptado aos novos tempos, com o potencial esportivo que há no Brasil, que lidera o esporte sul-americano nos últimos tempos.A parte esportiva reforçada com a parte de negócios potente e bem estruturada irá criar um coquetel explosivo que potencializará a liga brasileira como uma das melhores do mundo – disse o Anoro.

O executivo também contou como foi o processo de formação e consolidação da liga espanhola, em que há a presença de dois clubes dominantes: Barcelona e Real Madrid. Segundo Anoro, para que o negócio da LaLiga pudesse crescer, foi necessário mostrar aos dois gigantes que o fortalecimento da competição não os prejudicaria, mas sim faria o mercado como um todo crescer em ritmo mais acelerado.

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– Na Espanha, temos sorte de contar com dois dos clubes mais potentes do mundo, Barcelona e Real Madrid, que estão em um nível de negócios distinto em relação aos outros times da Espanha. Entendemos que temos 42 clubes, não só Barcelona e Real Madrid. Acreditamos em trabalhar de forma unificada, para criar um produto muito sólido. Não queremos fazer com que Barcelona e Real Madrid ganhem menos. Queremos que eles continuem crescendo. Mas queremos que outros clubes também cresçam – comentou Anoro.

A visão é compartilhada por Pedro Proença, presidente da Liga Portuguesa. Para ele, a venda centralizada dos direitos de transmissão resulta em uma menor disparidade entre as receitas dos clubes. Ele falou, inclusive, sobre a situação específica do futebol português,no qual o Governo precisou intervir e obrigou unificação dos clubes, prevista para acontecer a partir de 2028.

Por conta da experiência com a liga portuguesa, Proença defende que seja adotado um modelo semelhante no Brasil. Para ele, é inviável exportar a futura liga brasileira se times como Flamengo e Corinthians venderem seus direitos de maneira individualizada.

-A grande razão (para a importância da centralização) é não termos um produto homogêneo. Não temos um modelo, em que o primeiro e o 18º colocado cumprem exatamente as mesmas regras. Não temos um modelo de controle econômico dos clubes que obrigue que as verbas que recebemos sejam investidas nomeadamente em infraestrutura, gramado, iluminação, na qualidade do produto.A recomendação que eu dou para o futebol brasileiro é: quanto mais cedo fizerem, mais cedo haverá o produto – analisou Proença.

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Como estão as negociações no Brasil?

O Brasil vive um processo de formação da liga de clubes desde meados de 2021. A atuação da liga está prevista para começar em 2025, quando o atual contrato de direitos de transmissão da Série A do Brasileirão terá terminado.

Por enquanto, os clubes estão divididos em dois blocos: a Liga do Futebol Brasileiro (Libra), que tem a adesão de 18 times, e a Liga Forte Futebol (LFF), que conta com a participação de 26 equipes.

Ainda não houve entendimento para unificar os dois grupos. Os principais pontos de discordância atualmente são cláusulas de proteção para Flamengo e Corinthians e questões de governança, como a regra de unanimidade presente no estatuto da Libra.

Clubes da Libra (18): Bahia, Botafogo, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Grêmio, Guarani, Ituano, Mirassol, Novorizontino, Palmeiras, Ponte Preta, Red Bull Bragantino, Sampaio Corrêa, Santos, São Paulo, Vasco e Vitória.

Clubes da LFF (26): ABC, Athletico-PR, Atlético-MG, América-MG, Atlético-GO, Avaí, Brusque, Chapecoense, Coritiba, Ceará, Criciúma, CRB, CSA, Cuiabá, Figueirense, Fluminense, Fortaleza, Goiás, Internacional, Juventude, Londrina, Náutico, Operário, Sport, Tombense e Vila Nova.