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Tottenham Hotspur’s activity in the transfer market over the last few days has been frantic to say the least, with huge moves being made by new boss Thomas Frank.

Mohammed Kudus appears to be the first major signing of the Dane’s tenure in charge, after a £55m deal was agreed between the Lilywhites and West Ham United.

The Ghanaian could prove to be an excellent addition for the club, with the 24-year-old scoring 19 times during his two years with the Hammers after joining from Ajax.

It certainly would be the start of what’s going to be a huge window for the club, especially if they are to rise up the Premier League table throughout 2025/26 after their dismal finish last year.

However, numerous other players still remain on their radar between now and the end of the window, but it remains to be seen how many more deals will be completed.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Brentford striker Yoane Wissa has been labelled as a potential option for Spurs this summer, potentially following Frank in moving across the capital to join the Lilywhites.

A £50m price tag has been mooted for the 28-year-old, who registered 19 league goals for the Bees during the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

However, another player in England’s top flight has emerged on their radar, with Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White a key target, according to The Athletic.

They claim that direct talks have been held between the two clubs, with a deal now being given the famous “here we go” by Fabrizio Romano who has suggested that it is a “massive” move for the club.

Whilst no deal has yet been formally completed, journalist Ben Jacobs has stated that the player has “agreed” to the move and will head to north London for around £60m, a bargain for Frank’s side.

The player is set to undergo a medical on Friday, according to Mike McGrath of The Telegraph.

Why Spurs’ £60m target would be a better signing than Kudus & Wissa

Whilst a deal for Kudus is pretty much in the final stages, it’s evident that the board are serious about completing moves for numerous players ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Daniel Levy evidently wants to back Frank in his quest for success, looking to build on the Europa League triumph they achieved at the end of last season.

Kudus and Wissa would add further quality to the frontline without a doubt, with the pair registering a combined total of 24 league goals throughout 2024/25.

However, despite their pending arrivals, a move for Gibbs-White would undoubtedly be a better option, with the England international one of the most sought-after talents in the division after being on Manchester City’s radar earlier this summer.

When comparing his stats to those of the aforementioned duo, he’s massively outperformed the pair in numerous key areas, handing Frank the attacking quality he has craved this window.

How MGW compares to Kudus & Wissa in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Gibbs-White	Kudus	Wissa
Games played	34	32	35
Goals & assists	15	8	23
Progressive passes	5.3	2.7	2.1
Passes into final third	4.2	1.6	1.3
Shot-creating actions	3.7	3.6	2.1
Take-on success	50%	44%	30%
Aerials won	1.3	0.3	0.9
Key passes	1.3	1	0.8
Stats via FBref

Gibbs-White, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Jamie Martin, has registered more progressive passes per 90, along with more key passes completed – having the creativity ability to allow those ahead of him to thrive in front of goals.

He’s also registered more shot-creating actions despite his deep-lying role, whilst completing a higher percentage of his take-ons, subsequently able to create chances for himself or his teammates.

The 25-year-old has further showcased his dominance with his higher figure of aerials won per 90, with his skillset handing Frank a superb all-round option within the final third.

£60m for a player of his talent in today’s market would be an excellent piece of business by the hierarchy, offering the side yet another incredible talent within the final third.

There’s no denying that Kudus or Wissa would also be impressive signings, but given the stats produced and his current international status, Gibbs-White would blow the pair out of the water, potentially playing a huge role in any future success under Frank.

A better signing than Eze: Spurs set to make bid for "magical" £20m star

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have ended their pursuit of Eberechi Eze with a move for another talented star.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 10, 2025

Leeds United are now close to signing a 26-year-old international from the same club as their earlier move for Lukas Nmecha.

Like any Championship team promoted to the Premier League, Leeds are desperately seeking ways to improve their squad options ahead of the 2025/26 season getting underway. The Whites have already made two additions in the form of Lukas Nmecha, who joins on a free transfer from Wolfsburg, and Jaka Bijol, who has joined from Serie A side Udinese.

A Bijol repeat: Leeds make one of the "best in the world" a priority target

Leeds United could soon seal another fantastic defensive deal by landing this cut-price star.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 30, 2025

The Yorkshire side have no desire to stop there, with journalist Pete O’Rourke reporting over the weekend that Leeds are preparing a bid worth £12 million to sign Himad Abdelli from Angers. Leeds are in the market for new options in the midfield area, and Daniel Farke is personally a big fan of Abdelli.

According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Leeds are also in talks to sign defender Igor Julio from Brighton & Hove Albion. The defender looks set to leave the Seagulls this summer, as a number of English teams circle with interest.

Leeds close to signing Belgium international Bornauw

The Whites are keeping their options open when it comes to signing another new defender, and according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are close to signing Sebastiaan Bornauw from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

The report states that Leeds have agreed to pay an initial €6 million, which is roughly £5 million, and are ready to offer the defender a four-year contract at Elland Road. It goes on to add that Bornauw is set to undergo his medical at Thorp Arch on Monday.

The 26-year-old, who has won four caps for Belgium, has entered the final year of his contract at Wolfsburg, leaving them little choice but to cash in to avoid him following Nmecha in a free transfer a year later.

Bornauw played just 15 times in the Bundesliga last season, as several injuries caused him to miss large parts of the campaign.

Apps

15

Starts

8

Goals

2

Assists

1

Clean sheets

1

Interceptions per game

0.8

Tackles per game

0.6

Balls recovered per game

1.9

Clearances per game

2.4

His arrival at Elland Road will see him be the second defender to join the Whites this summer after the signing of Bijol.

Max Wober is now likely to leave, as he spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and is now well down the pecking order following an injury-hit campaign.

Everton are reportedly interested in signing a “complete” midfielder in the summer transfer window, and his versatility could be a major weapon for David Moyes.

Everton reveal £100m transfer budget

The Blues feel like they are beginning a new chapter in their great history, with life at Goodison Park coming to an end and their move to Bramley Moore Dock finally coming to fruition this summer.

Moyes will know the importance of being backed in the transfer market, and it looks as though that will be the case, with a recent update revealing that as much as £100m could be made available to add to Everton’s squad.

Former defender John Stones has been mentioned as a high-profile option for the Blues, with the England international potentially leaving Manchester City this summer.

Meanwhile, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has talked up the idea of a “marquee signing” arriving, also confirming the likelihood of a £100m summer: “One marquee signing is certainly possible, especially with some players out of contract, but the chances of a series of big names is less likely. A spend of £50-£100m is the ballpark unless there are exits.”

Everton keen on signing "complete" midfielder

Now, according to an update from The Express, Everton are interested in signing Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande ahead of next season. It is claimed that Blues chiefs have identified him as a “candidate” to bolster Moyes’ options in the middle of the park – the 23-year-old can play as a six, a box-to-box player, a ten and even at full-back.

Kevin Thelwell is of course leaving to join Rangers, perhaps allowing for smooth negotiations between the clubs as incoming Toffees CEO Angus Kinnear looks to make his own first signing on Merseyside.

Diomande could be just what Moyes is after in his midfield, coming in as a young option who has already shown that he can handle British football.

The two-cap Ivory Coast international has made 73 appearances for Rangers, dealing with the pressure of playing for a huge club, scoring eight goals and registering 10 assists along the way. Analyst John Walker has also hailed him as a “complete” player.

Diomande isn’t out of contract at Rangers until the summer of 2028, so signing him on the cheap may not be easy, but he stands out as a strong option for Everton, not least because of his versatility.

Everton could now make shock move to sign £250k-p/w England star for Moyes

The Toffees are excited to kick off a new era and could begin their journey with a bang…

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 1, 2025

He would immediately add so much depth to Moyes’ squad, and at 23, his best years should still be ahead of him.

Chelsea officials have held face-to-face Stamford Bridge talks with the representatives of a “monster” player in the last few days, according to a report, with the target keen on a switch to the Blues and set to decide his future after Sunday.

Chelsea set sights on new forward after pivotal Premier League final day

Enzo Maresca’s side take on fellow top five contenders Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season this weekend, and quite a lot is riding on the line for Chelsea.

£60m Premier League forward has spoken to friends about joining Chelsea

He’s apparently interested.

ByEmilio Galantini May 21, 2025

A win against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men would guarantee Chelsea’s place in the Champions League draw next season, while seriously boosting the club’s summer recruitment drive both financially and in the sense of player-pull.

However, anything less than three points would result in Maresca relying on results elsewhere to go Chelsea’s way, with this airtight race for Europe coming as the most dramatic and enthralling we’ve witnessed in years.

3. Man City

68

4. Newcastle

66

5. Chelsea

66

6. Aston Villa

66

7. Nottingham Forest

65

The immediate goal for Maresca, following his appointment at Cobham last summer, was to guide Chelsea back into Europe’s most prestigious competition. He’s now just 90 minutes away from ticking that item off his Chelsea to-do list, with Maresca set for a nervy bit of final day drama over a mouth-watering encounter against Forest at the City Ground.

While Chelsea’s boss prepares his side for their most important match of the campaign, the club’s transfer chiefs have set their sights on a new striker signing this summer.

Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku have scored just two Premier League goals between them this calendar year, emphasizing Maresca’s need for a clinical centre-forward if they’re to truly reach the next level.

Eintracht Frankfurt starlet Hugo Ekitiké, RB Leipzig ace Benjamin Sesko and Napoli outcast Victor Osimhen are three strikers being considered by Chelsea after their prolific campaigns abroad, but another name who keeps being mentioned is Ipswich Town star Liam Delap.

The Englishman’s £30 million release clause after Ipswich’s relegation is well documented, and Man City’s ex-starlet has produced the goods for an otherwise underwhelming team – scoring 12 Premier League goals this season and counting.

Delap has been called a “monster” by teammates, and he’s stood out as Kieran McKenna’s shining light throughout 24/25.

Liam Delap keen on joining Chelsea and set for imminent decision

Chelsea have been laying groundwork to sign Delap for months, according to journalist Simon Phillips, with his next destination soon to be determined.

As per another update from the reporter, via his Substack, Delap is keen on joining Chelsea and is set to make a decision after this weekend. His agents also held some talks with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Friday, alongside fellow suitors Man United, when the two clubs faced off.

“Chelsea laid down a lot of foundations to sign Delap in January, and he is very much open and interested in a move to Stamford Bridge,” wrote Phillips.

“Delap’s reps were at Stamford Bridge on Friday and held talks with United officials. These talks were not seen as positive via our sources. At the time we did not hear that Chelsea had anyone speaking to the reps of Delap. However, we have since heard from another source that Chelsea did actually get to speak with Delap’s reps early on in the evening before the game.

“Chelsea have scheduled more talks with Delap’s reps and the player will make his decision after the weekend.”

Newcastle United have now submitted a significant bid for an “incredible” player, with Eddie Howe of the belief he would be a perfect fit in his midfield, according to a report.

Newcastle pushing for the Champions League

Regardless of whether Newcastle secure Champions League football, the 2024-25 season will always be remembered fondly by fans, having finally ended their 70-year wait to win a major honour, but they still remain in a strong position to seal a top-five finish.

The Magpies are sitting pretty in fourth place, two points clear of Nottingham Forest with just three Premier League games left to play, although their remaining fixtures are on the more difficult side, with matches against two direct rivals now on the horizon.

Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

May 11th

Arsenal (a)

May 18th

Everton (h)

May 25th

It could prove to be a difficult task, but should Howe’s side qualify for Europe’s elite competition, they should be able to attract some top players in the summer, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah and Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo believed to be of interest.

According to a report from Spain, Newcastle are also interested in a new midfielder, having submitted a €25m (£21m) bid for Girona maestro Yangel Herrera, who they are now determined to win the race for.

Atletico Madrid and top-five rivals Nottingham Forest are also interested in signing Herrera this summer, but the Magpies have now taken a firm step towards securing his signature, having put a strong offer on the table.

Howe believes the Venezuelan would fit perfectly into his side, and the manager is looking to introduce some additional quality into an already impressive midfield, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali attracting interest due to their performances this season.

Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target

The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 6, 2025 Herrera could be "incredible" signing for Newcastle

While Howe is not short on top-quality midfield options, there are clear signs the 27-year-old is a well-rounded midfielder, who could play an important role for the Magpies in a potential Champions League campaign next season.

The central midfielder has caught the eye in front of goal for Girona this term, registering four goals and three assists in La Liga, including a well-taken headed effort against Celta Vigo back in September.

Not only that, but the former New York City FC man impressed with his tackling ability in the early stages of his career, while also catching the eye due to his pass-success rate in the final third during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lauded as an “incredible player” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are plenty of signs that Herrera could be a success at a major European club, so it is a promising development that Newcastle have now made a concrete approach.

Stats highlights from the Champions Trophy match between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Rawalpindi

Sampath Bandarupalli24-Feb-2025 • Updated on 25-Feb-2025178 Number of dot balls in Bangladesh’s innings against New Zealand – the most by any team in this Champions Trophy, and the second most for Bangladesh in a 50-over men’s ODI innings since 2012. They had played 185 dot balls against South Africa in a Johannesburg ODI in 2022.12 Number of aggressive shots attempted by Bangladesh batters in 22 overs bowled by the New Zealand spinners. The spinners conceded only 80 runs at an economy of 3.63, while New Zealand’s quicks went for 153 runs in 27 overs at an economy rate of 5.46Bangladesh tried to attack only four balls from Mitchell Santner in ten overs, and seven balls from Michael Bracewell, who took 4 for 26 in ten overs.4 for 26 Bracewell’s bowling figures against Bangladesh are the best for a New Zealand spinner at the Champions Trophy, bettering Paul Wiseman’s 4 for 45 against Zimbabwe in 2000.All four wickets Bracewell took were of the top-six Bangladesh batters. The only other New Zealand spinner to dismiss at least four of the opposition’s top six in a men’s ODI in the last 20 years is Ish Sodhi – also against Bangladesh in 2023.22 Runs conceded by New Zealand through wides against Bangladesh, their second most in a men’s ODI. They conceded 29 runs in wides against Australia in the 2011 World Cup game in Nagpur.2017 Previous instance of Kane Williamson getting out for single-digit scores in consecutive ODI innings, before his 1 and 5 in this Champions Trophy. Williamson scored 6 and 3 in successive matches against India in 2017.40 Difference in the runs scored by New Zealand and Bangladesh during the middle overs (11-40) on Monday. New Zealand scored 154 runs for the loss of two wickets in this phase, while Bangladesh scored only 114 and lost five wickets. Bangladesh played out 107 dot balls in this phase, while New Zealand only had 79.6.09 Economy rate of Bangladesh’s spinners – they conceded 123 runs in 20.1 overs they bowled on a pitch where New Zealand’s spinners went at 3.63 and took four wickets.On the other hand, Bangladesh’s pacers made early inroads, taking three wickets and ending up with an economy rate of 4.34 in the 26 overs they bowled, which was much better than the New Zealand pacers, who went at 5.46 runs per over.1 Rachin Ravindra became the first batter to score a hundred in his debut match at both the ICC’s global ODI events (the World Cup and the Champions Trophy). He scored an unbeaten 123 against England on his World Cup debut in 2023, and now 112 against Bangladesh on his Champions Trophy debut.Ravindra’s four ODI hundreds have all come at the ICC’s global events so far, the most at such events by any man for New Zealand, surpassing three by Kane Williamson and Nathan Astle.

With only 150 to chase, he could have taken a safer route. Instead, he smashed 98 not out off 47 balls to take down KKR

Sreshth Shah12-May-20234:50

Dasgupta: ‘Jaiswal’s innings was absolutely flawless’

On Thursday, if Yashasvi Jaiswal had started his innings with caution, you would have understood why. With only 150 to chase, there was merit in the opening batter to have a watchful start, protect his wicket against the new ball, and get his bearings before cashing in. With Jos Buttler at the other end, there was little reason to go too hard at the top, and in an era of data-driven cricket, even more so against an offspinner who can take the ball away.Therefore, it seemed to be a smart ploy from Nitish Rana to bowl the first over for Kolkata Knight Riders. Rana is a handy part-time spinner with a somewhat golden arm, and the idea to sneak in a quiet first over wasn’t a bad one. Worst case for Rana, if the over didn’t go as planned, at least it was a brave attempt to buy an early wicket since that was the only way in for KKR in their defence of 149. Instead, it turned out to be an expensive decision. Jaiswal hit Rana for 26 runs, the most by a batter in the opening over of an IPL innings.But you can’t blame Rana for bowling that over; you can only praise Jaiswal. The batter came down the track first ball and hit it for a six, and followed it up with another next ball. In all the years of IPL cricket, only once had that been done before – Virat Kohli in 2019 against Varun Aaron in a five-over match – and even after the 12 runs off the first two balls, Jaiswal was only whetting his appetite. Three of the next four balls in the over went for boundaries, the fourth ball very nearly did too.Related

Sunrisers in must-win territory; Super Giants' margin for error fast closing

Jaiswal and Chahal smash records and KKR

Stats – All the records that Jaiswal broke during his 13-ball fifty

Jaiswal takes a big step towards becoming a complete batter

Those six balls showed such pristine form that even Buttler did not hesitate to sacrifice his wicket next over. On zero, Buttler had turned down Jaiswal for a single but the youngster hadn’t spotted it and had run through. Once Buttler noticed that, he made the split-second decision to cross Jaiswal so that Jaiswal would not be out.”When I saw Nitish bowl, I thought that if I can get runs off him with my shots then I should go for it,” Jaiswal said after the match. “You never know how someone will bowl their first ball, but after spotting the field placements, I calculated what my shot options were.”Between Jos and me, I am learning a lot. Today, he sacrificed his wicket because of my error, and I really respect that. We all know that it happens in the game, nobody does it purposely. But that was the moment where I decided to take responsibility, thinking ‘it is okay’ but I need to take responsibility from here on.”

“I also know that I will not bat like this every day. I have to accept that on some days my shots will pay off and on other days they won’t. So it is important to continue learning irrespective of how my innings pans out”Yashasvi Jaiswal

Jaiswal did not let Buttler’s sacrifice go to waste. He pulled Harshit Rana for a six, enjoyed some luck to earn four overthrows, and then tore into Shardul Thakur with a hat-trick of fours.He first hit Shardul by moving leg side and driving an inswinger, then by pulling through midwicket and finally following it up with another drive through the covers. On 49 off 12 balls, Jaiswal had very nearly broken the all-time record for the fastest T20 fifty. On the next delivery, he shaved one ball off the IPL record.”I was very excited,” Jaiswal said. “When I reached the 13-ball fifty, for a brief moment I thought there was a chance it was the fastest IPL fifty, but I wasn’t sure till I found out after the game. I enjoyed that moment, I celebrated also, I did this [flexes his right arm] and this [flexes his left arm]. I told myself, ‘Let’s celebrate.'”The quality of the shots he played and the fluency with which they travelled to the boundary was the highlight of Jaiswal’s fifty, but even more impressive was his clear thinking. Jaiswal did not approach his innings based on what the target was. Neither did he change his style in the aftermath of the Buttler dismissal, nor was it a case of ‘see ball, hit ball’. Instead, Jaiswal’s mantra was to scan the field, identify scoring options and then remain wholly committed to it. It is that sort of mindset that has made Jaiswal the frontrunner for the orange cap and the emerging player award, and holistically takes him closer to becoming a complete batter.Coming into the KKR game, Jaiswal’s ball-per-boundary ratio of 3.1 in the powerplay this season was the best. He is also extremely quick off the blocks, possessing the second-best strike rate (175) and an even better ball-per-boundary ratio (2.9) in his first ten balls of an innings. Even though he scores faster against pace bowlers, he is yet to be dismissed by spin in IPL 2023. These quick bursts have set him up for success this season, with the KKR innings now giving him his fifth 50-plus score in 12 innings and very nearly a second IPL 2023 century, having already hit 124 against Mumbai Indians.Yashasvi Jaiswal takes a bow after hitting the winning runs•BCCI”Every wicket has a different behaviour and you play according to that wicket and the ball being bowled,” Jaiswal said on his consistency this season. “I try to understand what they [the bowlers] can do, where they can bowl, and what the field is. And I try to understand the wicket also. Because sometimes that can go in your favour if you understand the wicket. My preparation has been focused around my discipline lately. Because after fielding for 20 overs with high intensity, you have to go bat. That’s why I am working on my fitness and the mental aspect of the game.”I also know that I will not bat like this every day. I have to accept that on some days my shots will pay off and on other days they won’t. So it is important to continue learning irrespective of how my innings pans out. Around me, there are many experienced players and I keep talking to them about how to keep your mindset as a batter. The legends like MS [Dhoni] sir, Virat Kohli sir and Jos and Sanju [Samson] … whenever I meet them, I try to learn what more I can add to my game and how I can control my mind.”In his last 20 balls, Jaiswal caught on to the fact that Samson was timing it better and therefore took a back seat. Samson pumped five sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 29-ball 48, but that also meant there were not enough runs left for Jaiswal to reach his century. Needing six to get the century but only three to finish the game, the winning runs from Jaiswal could only be a four, leaving him stranded on 98 off 47 deliveries. For all intents and purposes, it was a century, with Jaiswal also treating it like that, removing his helmet and bowing to the camera after the game was buried.”I thought that I will go for a six to get the hundred if I could, but it is okay,” Jaiswal said. “The other thing I had in mind was that I have to play long and finish the games, so even at the end, that was the only thought in my mind, to leave the field by finishing the game. I will remember this innings a lot. It was short-lived but also very intense.”

Here’s how the six teams look after the two mini replacement drafts ahead of the second leg

Umar Farooq08-Jun-2021The Pakistan Super League (PSL) had two mini replacement drafts for the six franchises to complete their teams ahead of the second leg of the 2021 edition of the tournament, which had been suspended after 14 matches in March following a spate of Covid-19 cases among players and support staff in Karachi. It will resume on June 9 in Abu Dhabi, with Lahore Qalandars set to take on Islamabad United.If it hadn’t been paused, PSL 2021 would have ended with the final in Lahore on March 22. Between then and now, several overseas players – who were part of the first leg – have withdrawn from the tournament due to various reasons.Where the teams stand on the points tableAmid the logistical challenges, all six franchises were allowed to pick two additional players in their original squads, with at least one overseas player, increasing squad sizes from 18 to 20. The earlier playing conditions had stated that each team had to feature at least three or a maximum of four overseas players in their XIs, but given the growing obstacles around the Covid-19 pandemic, the number has been reduced to minimum of two overseas players and maximum of four in the XI for each team. Here’s a look at all the changes in the squads ahead of the second leg.

Karachi Kings

Form guide: WLWLW (most recent first)OUT: Colin Ingram, Mohammad Nabi, Dan Christian, Joe Clarke, Liton DasIN: Thisara Perera, Najibullah Zadran, Martin Guptill, Mohammad HarisPlaying XI (before postponement): Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Joe Clarke, Colin Ingram, Dan Christian, Imad Wasim (capt), Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Amir, Waqas Maqsood, Arshad IqbalESPNcricinfo LtdRelated

• Usman Khawaja: 'There's only three spots in the top order. If you don't fit in them, it can be pretty tough'

• Karachi Kings captain Imad Wasim rubbishes claims of 'hiding himself' on the field

• Win the toss and opt to chase – the only certainty in PSL

• How the PSL plans to beat the Abu Dhabi heat

• Rashid to fly to England for T20 Blast immediately after PSL

Peshawar Zalmi

Form guide: LWWWL (most recent first)OUT: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Ravi BoparaIN: Fabian Allen, Fidel Edwards, Rovman Powell, Waqar Salamkheil, Hazratullah ZazaiPlaying XI (before postponement): Kamran Akmal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik (capt), Haider Ali, Ravi Bopara/David Miller, Sherfane Rutherford, Amad Butt, Umaid Asif, Saqib Mahmood, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad IrfanESPNcricinfo Ltd

Islamabad United

Form guide: WLWW (most recent first)OUT: Alex Hales, Lewis Gregory, Phil Salt, Janneman MalanIN: Mohammad Akhlaq, Usman Khawaja, Umar Amin, Brandon KingPlaying XI (before postponement): Phil Salt, Alex Hales, Shadab Khan (capt), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lewis Gregory, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Zafar GoharESPNcricinfo Ltd

Lahore Qalandars

Form guide: WLWW (most recent first)OUT: David Wiese, Joe Denly, Tom Abell, Samit Patel, Shakib Al HasanIN: Rashid Khan, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Seekkuge Prasanna, Tim David, Sultan AhmedPlaying XI (before postponement): Fakhar Zaman, Sohail Akhtar (capt), Joe Denly, Mohammad Hafeez, Ben Dunk, Samit Patel, David Wiese, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Ahmed Daniyal, Haris RaufESPNcricinfo Ltd

Multan Sultans

Form guide: LLWLL (most recent first)OUT: Chris Lynn, James Vince, Adam Lyth, Carlos Brathwaite, Obed McCoy, Shahid Afridi, MahmudullahIN: Blessing Muzarabani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Asif Afridi, Hammad Azam, Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Waseem MuhammadPlaying XI (before postponement): Chris Lynn, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), James Vince, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Khushdil Shah, Shahid Afridi, Carlos Brathwaite, Sohail Khan, Usman Qadir, Shahnawaz DhaniESPNcricinfo Ltd

Quetta Gladiators

Form guide: WLLLL (most recent first)OUT: Tom Banton, Dale Steyn, Anwar Ali, Chris Gayle, Ben CuttingIN: Andre Russell, Jack Wildermuth, Jake Weatherald, Khurram Shehzad, Zahir KhanPlaying XI (before postponement): Usman Khan, Saim Ayub, Faf du Plessis, Azam Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt), Ben Cutting, Mohammad Nawaz, Qais Ahmad, Zahid Mahmood, Dale Steyn, Mohammad HasnainGetty Images

MLB's hot stove cooked up a stunner during the winter meetings on Tuesday, as three-time All-Star closer Edwin Díaz, who was being pursued by both the incumbent Mets and the defending champion Dodgers, chose to leave New York for Los Angeles on a three-year, $69 million contract. The deal set an average annual value record for a relief pitcher.

It was a major coup for the Dodgers, who, despite spending big on two relievers last offseason, never had a reliable closer emerge throughout the regular season.

But it was a big blow to the Mets, who seemingly did everything they could to bring back the talented reliever. New York's offer was reportedly $66 million over three years.

So why didn't Díaz return to Queens if the money was similar between the Mets' and Dodgers' offers?

Díaz miffed by Mets, Dodgers' recruitment aided by brother

Díaz was reportedly unhappy with the Mets' decision to part ways with pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, according to Mike Puma of . While manager Carlos Mendoza's status was safe in the aftermath of New York's stunning collapse, Hefner was one of five coaches New York decided to let go in a coaching staff shakeup on Oct. 3. Evidently Díaz, who recorded the three lowest ERA marks and two highest strikeout rates of his career during the six seasons Hefner was with the club, was not pleased to see the coach heading out the door.

Plus, Los Angeles, already a desirable destination with the Dodgers coming off back-to-back World Series titles, had a secret weapon in its free agent recruitment of Díaz: Díaz's brother. Alexis Díaz, an All-Star in 2023, was acquired by Los Angeles in May of 2025 but he struggled to the tune of a 5.00 ERA in nine innings pitched for the Dodgers. Los Angeles in September of 2025 designated Díaz for assignment. But he still spoke glowingly of the Dodgers organization to his brother, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN and Puma.

Prior to Díaz's departure, the Mets signed free agent reliever Devin Williams to a three-year, $50 million contract. According to Passan, Díaz was unhappy that Mets brass did not give him a heads up about the signing of Williams. New York president of baseball operations David Stearns, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, couldn't acknowledge the Díaz deal but seemed to indicate that the Williams signing impacted the club's desire to bring back Díaz.

“I'm not going to talk about any specific negotiation," Stearns said. "What I'll say is once you add to a certain part of our team that will change the calculus in how you look at your team in general.”

تحدث مدرب أتلتيكو مدريد، دييجو سيميوني، في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم قبل مباراة الفريق أمام برشلونة ببطولة الدوري الإسباني.

ويحل أتلتيكو مدريد ضيفًا على برشلونة، في مباراة مقدمة من الجولة التاسعة عشر للدوري الإسباني، وتقام غدًا الثلاثاء على ملعب “سبوتيفاي كامب نو”.

وافتتح سيميوني الحديث بشأن كلمات فليك مشيدًا بأتلتيكو مدريد، وقال في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لا أعلق أبدًا على آراء الآخرين؛ لكلٍّ رأيه الخاص، نواصل العمل على التحسين كفريق، لدينا مجال أكبر بكثير للتحسين مما أظهرناه”.

وأضاف: “المباراة التي نتوقعها واضحة جدًا، لديهم هجوم مذهل، وأسلوب لعب قوي جدًا، وعلينا أن نكون أقوياء للمنافسة، علينا أن ندفع المباراة إلى أقصى حد ممكن لنتمكن من إلحاق الضرر بهم”.

وإذا كان برشلونة هو المرشح الأوفر حظًا، رد: “إنه فريق أثبت جدارته، لا يغيرون استراتيجيتهم الهجومية وخط دفاعهم المتقدم، لديهم خيارات متعددة”. 

اقرأ أيضًا | هاجمه ريال مدريد.. حكم مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد في الدوري الإسباني

وسُئل سيميوني عن الدرس المُستفاد لفريقه من مباراتي آرسنال وليفربول بدوري الأبطال، وأجاب: “إنها مبارياتٌ مختلفة، ولكلٍّ منها أسلوبه الخاص، سنرى كيف سنؤدي غدًا”.

وكان أتلتيكو مدريد تعرض لهزيمة من ليفربول بنتيجة 3-2، وتلقى هزيمة برباعية دون رد من آرسنال.

وأشاد بلاعبه خيمينيز، مؤكدًا: “إنه لاعب بالغ الأهمية بالنسبة لنا، أتمنى أن يحافظ على مستواه”.

وعن دي بورجوس، حكم مباراة الغد، رد سيميوني باقتضاب: “لا أعلق عادةً على الحكام، أحترمهم كثيرًا، وأحاول مساعدتهم”.

وبشأن صورة فليك ورافينها عقب مباراة برشلونة وألافيس، أتم: “هذا طبيعي، فنحن بشر ولدينا مشاعر، من السهل أن نرى ونطلب أشياءً من على مقاعد البدلاء، اللعب ليس سهلاً، ولعب مباريات متتالية أمرٌ معقد، من وجهة نظرنا، نسعى دائمًا للأفضل”.