Tim Paine said scratching a guard is something Smith did regularly with no intention of removing another player’s mark

Daniel Brettig12-Jan-2021Australia have closed ranks around Steven Smith and his habit of shadow batting and re-marking guard during matches, after stump camera footage that showed him doing so during Rishabh Pant’s SCG innings raised suspicions of sharp practice.In an episode not a million miles away from when Justin Langer once tapped the bails off during a Test in Sri Lanka in 2004, an extension of his habit of touching them regularly when walking past as a fielder, Smith was seen shadow batting at Pant’s end as if left-handed and then scraping his spikes down the line of middle.While he apologised for his own behaviour during a Test match that Australia would most likely have won without him dropping three critical catches on the final day, Paine was adamant that Smith had meant nothing sinister or annoying to Pant by what he had done on the crease line. Even so, Paine conceded that Smith would need to reconsider venturing into those areas in future “because of the perception of it”.”I’m glad you asked that, because I have spoken to Steve about this. And I know he’s really disappointed with the way it’s come across. If you’ve watched Steve Smith play Test cricket, that’s something he does every single game, five or six times a day,” Paine said. “He’s always standing in the batting crease, shadow batting. We know he’s got those many Steve Smith quirks and one of them is he’s always marking centre.Related

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“He was certainly not changing guard and I’d imagine if he was then the Indian players would have kicked up a bit of a stink at the time. When he’s in the field, he likes to walk up to where he bats and visualizes how he’s going to play. Yesterday you could see him up there, playing a couple of shots as a left-hander – as if [working out] where he wanted Lyno to pitch the ball.”And one of his mannerisms – he does it a lot – was marking centre, he wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination trying to change guard or do anything like that.”Smith, winner of the match award for his scores of 131 and 81 – his first century on Australian soil since the Newlands scandal in April 2018 – was “quite upset” in Paine’s words to be facing further questions of his character around re-marking the crease.”Steve’s quite upset about it. It’s something we always have a laugh about because he just loves batting so much and even when he’s out on the field he’s shadow batting and marking centre,” Paine said.Rishabh Pant put plenty of pressure on Australia during the final day•Getty Images”I’m sure if people are happy to look back at the footage you’ll see it happens probably more than once a Test match with Steve. There’s no way in the world he was trying to change Rishabh Pant’s guard or anything like that. Now that it’s come up as it has it’s something he might have to look at because of the perception of it.”The close examination of all actions and words on the field, whether through the many camera angles or the now ubiquitous recording of conversations around the stumps, did not reflect well on Australia on the final day of the Test, something Paine was more than happy to acknowledge during his unscheduled media appearance. But he also defended some of the mindless chatter being offered by the likes of Matthew Wade and Marnus Labuschagne as they fielded in close to the bat for long periods as Nathan Lyon tried to bowl India out.”We fully understand that they are on all the time,” Paine said of the stump microphones. “Was it the stump mics that took away from the Test or me? It was probably my behaviour. I know – for some silly reason you forget at times they’re on. But I need to be better than that. I know they’re on. We’ve seen plenty of instances in the past when you can get stuck into the batsman and do it in a way that’s a lot better than the way I did it yesterday. We understand that.”I love the way Wadey goes about it. He and all of us need to understand that sometimes how things can look are not how they are in the middle. That’s something we need to be aware of. Yesterday wasn’t our finest day as a team, and it’s something we’ll address this morning. I certainly don’t want to change the way Wadey goes about it or anyone in our team goes about it.”

Everton have a huge task on their hands this summer to replace the outgoing Amadou Onana, who is set for a £50m move to join fellow Premier League side Aston Villa.

The Belgian has been an excellent addition to the Toffees, cementing his place in Sean Dyche’s midfield after his £33m move to Goodison Park back in the summer of 2022.

Whilst the club will make a nice profit on their investment, helping their PSR and FFP battle, it will leave a huge hole in the heart of the team, with Dyche needing to replace the 22-year-old ace.

They’ve been linked with numerous talents to try and fill the void, but as of yet, the Toffees are yet to find a suitable replacement for the ball-winning midfielder.

However, they’ve recently been credited with an interest in one star, who’s enjoyed a successful summer featuring for his nation at the Copa América.

Everton interested in Copa America star to replace Onana

According to journalist Nicola Jorge, via Sport Witness, Everton have been in talks with the agent of midfielder Richard Rios over a potential move to Goodison Park.

The 24-year-old Colombian could be available for just €20m (£17m) this summer, but Everton also face stiff competition from Leicester City for his services after his impressive displays on the international scene in recent weeks.

Rios started every game for Colombia, scoring once against Panama, as he helped lead his nation to a place in the final, where they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Argentina after extra time.

The report states that while no official offer has yet been made for his services, the Toffees have been in contact with Rios’ entourage over a move to Merseyside ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

He would undoubtedly be a great replacement for the outgoing Onana but also be a brilliant addition for one talent who is edging closer to a move to Everton.

Why Rios would be perfect for Lindstrom at Everton

According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Everton have reached an agreement with Napoli over the loan signing of midfielder Jesper Lindstrom until the end of the 2024/25 season.

The Dane has been identified as a player who could boost Dyche’s side in the final third, as the Toffees look to increase their goalscoring output next season.

Whilst he’s primarily a defensive midfielder, Colombian star Rios has produced some key figures in 2023/24 that could certainly allow Lindstrom to be a success at Goodison.

In his 12 appearances for Palmeiras in recent months, the “tremendous” Rios, as described by journalist Matteo Bonetti, averaged 37 passes per 90 at a completion rate of 79%.

Games played

12

Passes completed

37

Pass accuracy

79%

Progressive passes

3.5

Progressive carries

1.6

Tackles

2.2

Blocks

1.8

Out of his 37, an average of 3.5 of his passes were progressive, showcasing his ability at playing the ball into forward areas, allowing Lindstrom to create frequent opportunities for Dyche’s side in 2024/25.

However, with the Colombian being a defensive-minded player, he’s also excelled in regaining possession, averaging 2.2 tackles and 1.8 blocks per 90 – providing more defensive cover to Everton’s already impressive backline.

The 24-year-old would be an excellent addition and one that could allow potential new addition Lindstrom to regain his best form, which saw him achieve a tally of 11 goal contributions in 38 appearances during his time at former club Eintracht Frankfurt.

Should they agree a deal for Rios, it would be another superb addition by Dyche and his team, with the Toffees quietly building an impressive side that can easily challenge to be a mid-table side in the Premier League during the 2024/25 campaign.

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ByEthan Lamb Jul 19, 2024

Euro 2024 is done and dusted. Spain were the victors, of course they were, leaving England to rue another failure at the final hurdle.

Three years ago, Gareth Southgate had led the Three Lions to the verge of European Championship glory. Wembley was expectant, Wembley was…well, quite frankly chaotic. Italy were the eventual winners.

There was less chaos, less dramatics inside the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, but the end result was the same, just without the nervy penalty shoot.

Cole Palmer struck home. The trademark celebration came out and it looked as though England, a team who relied on moments throughout the competition had come out with another one. It was memorable again, just like Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick, just like the penalty shoot-out win over the Swiss, just like Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp heroics.

This time, however, it did not result in a win. With minutes on the clock Mikel Oyarzabal broke English hearts, steering home from close range. 2-1.

It was painful, not least for Southgate who two days later would leave his post. No more Gazza. We thank him for his efforts, for his charm, for his loyalty, we thank him for increasing our hopes of winning silverware.

Alas, it’s now time for a new era, it’s time to prepare for the World Cup in 2026. America, Canada and Mexico await the footballing world and England should be up there again as one of the favourites.

So, who will be in that squad? Some of the old guard, including Southgate, will be gone. There will be fresh faces, some usual suspects too.

England's predicted squad for the 2026 World Cup

Here’s what we’ve come up with at FFC and why…

1 Goalkeepers On the plane – Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale

It’s unlikely there will be too much change in this department ahead of the next World Cup. Pickford is the undisputed number one and that won’t change following his penalty heroics against the Swiss in Germany this summer.

You sense that Ramsdale will need to move on from Arsenal in order to stand a chance of competing for a spot. Still, with a new manager on the horizon, he might go in a different direction.

Facing the chop – Dean Henderson

Henderson only has one cap to his name and will be battling out with a few other stoppers for the right to be England’s third choice in North America.

New picks – James Trafford

The Burnley gloveman didn’t enjoy the best of seasons as the Clarets were relegated but he’s still a top young ‘keeper and has a few years to build up his experience ahead of 2026.

Ones to watch – Anthony Patterson

The Sunderland stopper could follow in Pickford’s footsteps to become a genuine option between the sticks during the next reign. He will likely have to leave the Championship in order to do so but he has been involved at U21 level already so the coaching set-up evidently rates him.

2 Defenders On the plane – Marc Guehi, John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw

No surprises here in truth, with Marc Guehi fully deserving of a starting berth again following a stunning first outing at a major tournament – even earning a place in Opta’s best XI as a result. As for Stones and Shaw, the pair will still only be 32 and 31, respectively, by the time the World Cup concludes, with fitness likely to be the only nagging issue over the next 24 months.

The only other certain survivor should be Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Liverpool hero having the chance to finally nail down the right-back berth following the failure of Southgate’s short-lived, midfield experiment.

Facing the chop – Kyle Walker, Lewis Dunk, Ezri Konsa, Kieran Trippier

Culpable for arguably both of Spain’s goals in Berlin, Kyle Walker certainly wasn’t at his best over the past month or so, with it hard to see the long-serving speedster lining up again at the age of 36 next time around.

Age will also likely bring the curtain down on Kieran Trippier’s solid England career, while 32-year-old Lewis Dunk may have also seen his chance come and go after failing to feature in Germany.

In the case of Ezri Konsa, the Aston Villa man certainly didn’t disgrace himself after replacing the suspended Guehi against Switzerland, although the emergence of an exciting crop of young centre-backs could prove his undoing.

New picks – Ben White, Levi Colwill, Jarrad Branthwaite, Rico Lewis, Quansah

Speaking of rising stars, Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill and Jarell Quansah will almost certainly be in contention in two years’ time, with the young trio looking set to remain mainstays of their respective clubs for the foreseeable future.

Away from the centre-back ranks, the seemingly inevitable retirement of Walker and Trippier could pave the way for U21s starlet Rico Lewis to stake a claim at right-back, while a certain Ben White may also be rubbing his hands together following Southgate’s – or rather Steve Holland’s – recent departure.

Ones to watch – Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Max Kilman

Such is the depth of talent at the new manager’s disposal, there remains a long list of other noteworthy figures who will also be pushing for involvement over the coming years.

There is a case to be made for the young Newcastle pairing of Lewis Hall and Timo Livramento, with the former Chelsea duo set to be in the mix to succeed the likes of Shaw and Walker et al before too long.

At the other end of the spectrum, a chance could finally emerge at some stage for West Ham’s new £40m signing, Max Kilman, with the ex-Wolves skipper – who will be 29 in 2026 – still waiting for a first cap after being bizarrely overlooked throughout Southgate’s tenure.

A word must also be said for forgotten man, Reece James, with the Chelsea star undoubtedly one of Europe’s best full-backs on his day, albeit the jury remains out on whether he will ever truly fulfil his potential amid a string of frustrating injury setbacks over a number of seasons now. (As they say, the best ability is availability…)

3 Midfielders On the plane – Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo

England have some of the most exciting young midfielders in the game right now so it was rather baffling to see Southgate pick the likes of Conor Gallagher and Trent Alexander-Arnold over Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton in Germany.

Mainoo eventually came into the side and was excellent, ultimately named in FFC’s Team of the Tournament for Euro 2024. He and Wharton will be great potential partners for Rice moving forward.

Facing the chop – Conor Gallagher

The Chelsea midfielder could be dropped from the squad depending on his club form over the next few years. He was a regular substitute in Germany but having been hauled off at half-time versus Slovenia, it said it all about his prospects moving forward.

With younger and fresher options bursting onto the scene, he will have to do a lot to become a regular under the new boss. Perhaps new Blues boss Enzo Maresca could turn him into a force. Watch this space.

New picks – Archie Gray, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Two of the more interesting picks for 2026 could be Archie Gray and Dewsbury-Hall, players who have achieved big moves this summer. The former joined Spurs from Leeds United and has been touted as a “future £100m” player. A few good seasons in the Premier League and there will no doubt be calls for an England inclusion.

Dewsbury-Hall may have his work cut out but offers a range of box-to-box qualities that would make him perfect alongside someone like Rice or Mainoo.

Ones to watch – Jacob Ramsey, Morgan-Gibbs-White, Curtis Jones, Lewis Miley

The sheer range of options the Three Lions could have available to them in two years is remarkable to think about. Ramsey, who has shone for Villa, has been linked with Tottenham, as too has Nottingham Forest’s Gibbs-White. Both possess the ability to make something happen out of nothing. Truth be told, though, they’d struggle to usurp Bellingham.

There might be better luck for the likes of Jones and Miley, who play in deeper roles. The Liverpool midfielder was in the provisional squad but didn’t make the cut for Euro 2024. As for Miley, still aged just 18, it surely won’t be too long before the Newcastle sensation appears in an England squad.

4 Forwards On the plane – Saka, Foden, Eze, Palmer, Gordon, Watkins, Kane

Not much change expected here, with it set to be a surprise if the forward line differs too drastically in two years’ time – unless Jack Grealish and Co can get their act together.

Twice England’s player of the year, Bukayo Saka cemented his status as arguably the nation’s most reliable presence following a standout Euro 2024, with the watching world still waiting for teammate Phil Foden to follow suit despite his heroics at club level.

If he’s not careful, the ‘Stockport Iniesta’ could find himself ousted by his former City colleague, Palmer, while both Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon, in particular, will be hoping to show more after being afforded mere flashes this time around.

As for the centre-forward ranks, the lack of a rising English striker should ensure it’s more of the same, with the question only likely to be as to whether Watkins will finally end an ageing Harry Kane’s (deserved) stranglehold on the number nine shirt.

England's possible starting XI in 2026

Facing the chop – Ivan Toney, Jarrod Bowen

It may appear harsh considering Ivan Toney’s limited, yet valuable impact in Germany, but the Brentford talisman will be 30 in 2026, while picking the right next move at club level will also be crucial for whether he can kick on in an England jersey.

As for West Ham’s shining light, Jarrod Bowen, the wing wizard continues to dazzle in claret and blue, although things haven’t quite clicked into gear on the international scene thus far, with the rise of Palmer – alongside Saka’s remarkable consistency – reducing his chances of featuring off the right flank.

New picks – Marcus Rashford

At a crossroads in his career with even his Manchester United future in doubt, Marcus Rashford could likely have had few complaints after missing out on Southgate’s Euros squad, having scored just eight times in all competitions in what was a limp 2023/24 campaign.

And yet, a man who netted three times at the World Cup in Qatar – and who has 17 goals in total for his country – can never truly be written off, while at just 26, time is still on his side to get back firing again.

While never seemingly a Southgate favourite, the United academy graduate – now aided by the arrival of club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford – could regain his place under the new regime, with the ailing Kane having no doubt missed Rashford’s explosive runs in behind this summer.

Ones to watch – Dominic Solanke, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Samuel Iling-Junior, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Ethan Nwaneri

As noted above, the pool of young strikers who are currently thriving at the elite level is rather limited, although in terms of an experienced option, Dominic Solanke could well be in contention again after narrowly missing out this time around.

On the flanks, there is certainly cause for excitement, with Aston Villa only recently snapping up England U21 star Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus, while Jamie Bynoe-Gittens could well follow in Jadon Sancho’s footsteps after trading Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund a few years ago.

Elsewhere, a return to the international fold may lie in store for Callum Hudson-Odoi, with the ex-Chelsea man having found a new lease of life at Nottingham Forest last season – scoring eight Premier League goals.

A more wildcard shout – in the mould of say Kobbie Mainoo at this summer’s Euros – could well be Arsenal prodigy, Ethan Nwaneri, with the 17-year-old looking to kick on after having become the top-flight’s youngest-ever player in the 2022/23 season.

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Posts ByStephan Georgiou Jul 16, 2024

Leny Yoro has sent a bullish message on Instagram as he gears up to make his Manchester United debut after his ill-timed foot injury.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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Yoro fractured foot in summerYet to play for UnitedHopeful of fresh startFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images & InstagramWHAT HAPPENED?

Yoro broke his foot in the summer, mere weeks after arriving at United from Lille in a £52 million ($67m) deal – an injury that required surgery. As a result, he has yet to play a single competitive game for the club, but is nearing his debut after returning to training.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Yoro has subsequently posted on Instagram, hyping his return, as he prepares to get to work under Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese is set to join the club ahead of the club's clash with Ipswich Town after the international break.

WHAT LENY YORO SAID

Yoro posted a montage of images and wrote on Instagram: "New start."

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WHAT NEXT?

United face PAOK in the Europa League on Thursday before playing Leicester City in the Premier League this weekend. Then, Amorim will take charge.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com muitas saídas já definidas e reforços contratados, a diretoria do Corinthians agora olha as situações contratuais dos jogadores que estão no elenco. Depois de renovar com Fábio Santos, o objetivo é prorrogar os vínculos de Gabriel Pereira e Du Queiroz, duas jovens promessas da base, que estão a poucos meses de terminar seus contratos com clube, mas devem ficar.

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Em entrevista coletiva na tarde desta quinta-feira, Roberto de Andrade garantiu que o acerto com os representantes da dupla estão próximo de ser concluído, e ambos tendem a permanecer no Timão por mais tempo.

-Já está encaminhado, conversamos mais do que uma vez com os representantes dos dois atletas. Em breve vamos fazer esses novos contratos para eles. Mas já está apalavrado, conversado, está bem adiantado.

Aos 20 anos, Gabriel tem sido titular com Sylvinho e vem se destacando, como no Dérbi, em que infernizou a defesa palmeirense. Seu contrato, porém, vence no dia 31 de março de 2022, ou seja, daqui seis meses, o que permitiria a ele já assinar um pré-acordo com qualquer outro clube, o que não deve acontecer.

Já Du Queiroz, de 21 anos, tem sido bastante aproveitado pelo treinador, não apenas em sua posição de origem, mas principalmente improvisado na lateral direita. Ao ganhar a confiança da comissão técnica, uma atenção especial ao seu contrato será dada, uma vez que o vencimento é no dia 28 de fevereiro de 2022, e também já poderia assinar com outro clube. A tendência é ficar.

Former Aston Villa chief Keith Wyness has been left thrilled at a piece of transfer business already secured by NSWE.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans, Monchi and Unai Emery have already been extremely busy during the summer transfer window, bringing in five new players while also selling three ahead of the 2024/25 season.

In regards to incomings, Ian Maatsen has been the biggest addition, with the left-back joining in a £35m deal from Chelsea. Currently at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands, Maatsen spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund and will get to play Champions League football again with Villa.

Former loanee Ross Barkley has also completed a permanent move to Villa Park, as has youngster Lewis Dobbin from Everton. Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz was sold to Juventus, with winger Samuel Iling-Junior and midfielder Enzo Barrenechea moving to the Midlands in the process.

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There’s been plenty to talk about, and one particular signing has left Wyness impressed.

Wyness reacts as Villa sign Maatsen

Talking to Football Insider about Maatsen’s move to Villa, Wyness believes it is a real statement of intent from NSWE and actually valued the player at £50m, feeling Villa have got themselves a £15m discount.

“What a signing – I think this is absolutely setting a statement of intent. This is a player who has adapted to a European style of football, it gives him options – and that’s where Emery’s strengths lie, giving himself plenty of options.

“Maatsen is a very exciting signing. I think the valuation is low. I thought he’d be closer to the £50million mark. Villa fans are going to love him.

“He’s an exciting player. Emery is bringing in more options, and it allows him to change styles mid-game. I think Villa are again going to be a very exciting team to watch next season.”

The 22-year-old helped Dortmund to the Champions League final last season, and it looks as if he’ll come in and potentially become first choice straightaway ahead of Lucas Digne and Alex Moreno.

Sky Sports’ Don Goodman has also had his say on the move for Maatsen, saying he’s ‘got all the attributes that you need to be a top full-back’.

“I think the price tag is probably in the right ballpark given what he did at Borussia Dortmund. He did really well at Burnley, albeit it was in the Championship so we had to wait and see if he could do it at the next level, which he did in Dortmund’s Champions League run.

“He’s got all the attributes that you need to be a top full-back. What separates him from the full-backs currently have at their disposal is his searing pace – he is absolutely rapid, so he can improve the team.

“When you play a high line like Villa do, having as much pace in those areas as possible is a massive benefit.”

It will be interesting to see if Maatsen can live up to the hype under Emery, with some feeling the left-back could become a star in the Midlands.

Pre-season is finally here, and that means it's just a matter of weeks before Arsenal kick off their campaign to dethrone Manchester City from the top of the Premier League.

However, if Mikel Arteta's side want to go one better than they did last season, they'll need to make some more additions to the squad this summer, and one area of the pitch that could do with reinforcing is right-wing.

The Gunners desperately need a backup to the incredible Bukayo Saka, and while they've been linked to stars like Pedro Neto for around £50m, the latest winger touted for a move to N5 might be the dream alternative, and he has actually been compared to the North Londoners' talisman in the past as well.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Italian publication Sportsmediaset.it via Calciomercato, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in Juventus ace Federico Chiesa this summer.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have expressed interest recently, while the Serie A side AS Roma have supposedly cooled theirs.

In good news for the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli is only looking for around €25m to sell the player, which converts to around £21m and seems like a reasonable offer.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line depending on how many other clubs express interest, but considering Chiesa's pricetag and the comparisons to Saka, he might be the ideal Neto alternative.

How Chiesa compares to Neto and Saka

So, before we examine how well Chiesa performs against Neto, let's explore this comparison between him and Saka.

It primarily stems from FBref, who compared every player in similar positions at the Euros just gone, created a list of the ten most comparable ones for each player, and concluded that the Englishman was the ninth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Italian.

Now, while their position obviously lends to an easy comparison, FBref came to this conclusion by examining the pair's underlying numbers and highlighting the metrics in which they rank closely, such as touches and touches in the attacking third, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, live passes, completed long passes, ball recoveries, and progressive carries, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.15

0.12

Progressive Carries

4.83

4.43

Live Passes

34.5

36.0

Completed Long Passes

1.72

1.43

Touches

47.6

47.6

Touches in the Attacking Third

26.9

25.1

Ball Recoveries

3.10

3.14

However, if the former Fiorentina ace is going to be a cheaper alternative to Wolverhampton Wanderers' star winger, how does he compare?

Well, from a pure output perspective, the Portuguese star has the advantage, as his tally of 14 goals and assists in 24 games last season is undeniably more impressive than the Juve man's haul of 13 in 37 games.

That said, when we examine the pair's underlying numbers, things get more interesting and start to look better for the Euros 2020 champion.

For example, while he comes out second best in some metrics such as progressive passes, passing accuracy, successful take-ons and goal-creating actions, he comes out ahead in most others, including non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, passes and crosses into the penalty area and shot-creating actions, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.49

0.47

Progressive Passes

2.87

3.21

Shots

3.03

2.14

Shots on Target

1.02

0.71

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.84

1.73

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.74

0.71

Passing Accuracy

69.9%

74.5%

Shot-Creating Actions

4.79

4.45

Goal-Creating Actions

0.37

0.83

Successful Take-Ons

1.43

2.20

Ultimately, signing either Chiesa or Neto to be Saka's backup next season would be a brilliant idea, as they're both incredibly talented wingers.

However, with the Wolves ace set to potentially cost more than twice as much, signing the Italian may be the best course of action to free up funds to spend elsewhere.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 25, 2024

A European club have made contact with Sunderland over a player dubbed a "freak of nature" regarding a summer move, according to a new transfer claim.

Sunderland transfer news

There have been plenty of Black Cats-related transfer news to emerge in recent days and weeks, with the future of Jobe Bellingham one key talking point. He is reportedly wanted by Serie A giants Lazio, but a move hasn't felt too close to coming to fruition. Tottenham have also been mentioned as potential suitors, as the teenager looks to emulate his world-famous older brother, Jude Bellingham.

Meanwhile, Caen striker Alexandre Mendy has been strongly linked with a move to Sunderland, having outscored Jack Clarke last season. A bid has even been lodged for his services, as Regis Le Bris looks to strengthen his attack before the 2024/25 Championship season gets underway.

Meanwhile, former Sheffield United midfielder Oliver Norwood has also emerged as a target for Sunderland in the current transfer window, having left Bramall Lane when his contract expired this summer. It means he is now a free agent, making him less of a gamble if the move doesn't work out, and he could add real nous in the middle of the park.

He is capable of taking up both defensive and attacking midfield roles, and he has racked up a total of 381 appearances in the Championship, highlighting how vastly experienced he is at this point in his career.

However, back to departure, and a new update ha emerged regarding Bellingham's Stadium of Light future.

Club make contact with Sunderland over Bellingham

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], Lazio have made contact with Sunderland over the signing of Bellingham this summer. They've asked for information over a potential deal and could now make a push.

It is claimed that the Black Cats want €15m (£12.7m) for the 18-year-old's services, but it is believed that he is holding out for a move to the Premier League next summer, and is happy to remain at the Stadium of Light for another season.

There is an inevitability about Bellingham eventually leaving Sunderland in the near future, in truth, with the £6,500-a-week attacking midfield ace such an ambitious young footballer who will already be mapping out his future.

He is a special talent, which can sometimes go under the radar because of the worldwide attention that his brother receives, and teammate Dan Neil has said of him: "He makes me look like a 17-year-old. He's an absolute freak of nature, physically. I have never seen a 17-year-old that size. Technically, he is a top, top, player as well."

Sunderland will hope that Lazio's latest interest goes away, though, allowing them to retain Bellingham's services for one more season before he potentially heads off to the Premier League.

Contact made: Sunderland braced for big money offer for "amazing" 22 y/o

One of the Black Cats’ most important players is attracting interest this summer.

ByTom Coates Aug 1, 2024

The one chance that the Black Cats could have of keeping their most prized asset is if they earn promotion to the top flight next season, which should act as a major incentive to Le Bris and the rest of his squad.

England 1-0 up in five-match series after comprehensive eight-wicket win

Valkerie Baynes13-Mar-20214:44

Should India play an extra seamer?

Big pictureThe emphatic style of England’s victory in the first match is what resonates most and India need to find a rapid response. That the hosts never recovered from 22 for 3 – their second-lowest powerplay score in T20Is – was key. It left them with an indefensible total of just 124 for 7, England’s top order mowing down the paltry target with ease.Having put their faith in an aggressive batting strategy, it falls to India’s batsmen to remedy the situation. Yes, Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 67 but failures at the top of the order and an extended tail meant the plan didn’t come off this time. By contrast, everything England tried worked first time, from opening the bowling with sole spinner Adil Rashid to pummelling India with pace and bounce via Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Chris Jordan. Then the 72-run stand between Jos Buttler and Jason Roy, whose 49 saw him pass 20 for the first time in five T20I innings, broke the back of the chase. It meant that India’s selection of three spinners in contrast to England’s one became a moot point.Related

England's bowlers ensure the plan comes together

Morgan hails bowling effort as England go 1-0 up

India's high risk, high reward tactics should be given a chance

Eoin Morgan acknowledged that his side expects to come under pressure during this series between the No. 1 and No. 2 sides in the world, but the quality of England’s full-strength side means he has back-up plans aplenty. Like England, India have the personnel. It’s a case of whether they can execute better this time to avoid conceding a 2-0 lead in this five-match series.Form guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)England WWWWL
India LLWWWVirat Kohli and Eoin Morgan shake hands after England’s win in the first match•Getty ImagesIn the spotlightVirat Kohli said that Rohit Sharma would be rested for the early part of this series, which suggests they will persist with Shikhar Dhawan. But does the risk of going 0-2 down prompt an early recall for Sharma? India’s top-order failure in the first match does not by any means fall at Dhawan’s feet – their top three combined for just five runs while Kohli fell for his second straight international duck and KL Rahul made just one. However, with Sharma India’s first-choice opener alongside Rahul, Dhawan has arguably a more limited window in which to produce the kind of knock India need.It’s near impossible to pick holes in an England side which won so comprehensively with bowlers and batsmen alike performing. To be critical would perhaps be to draw attention to the question of how they get the most from Ben Stokes in this format. His 1 for 25 at an economy rate of 8.33 made him England’s most expensive bowler in the first game, although he was hardly costly, and the fact he wasn’t required to bat is further testament to the strength of England’s performance. But there’s a sense that a batting average of 18.84 and bowling average of 37.41 simply belie Stokes’ calibre and it feels as though at the moment he forms part of the “Plan B or C” that Morgan was grateful his side didn’t need to resort to in the series opener.Team newsEngland could be reluctant to tinker with a side which won the first match so comprehensively. Morgan said the likes of Reece Topley and Tom Curran were unlucky to miss out on selection but it appears the most likely change would come if the pitch looks particularly slow, in which case Moeen Ali could come in as a second spinner, possibly at the expense of Sam Curran.England (possible): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Jonny Bairstow, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Eoin Morgan (capt), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark WoodIndia could be accused of going too spin-heavy in the first match given the success of England’s seamers so they may opt for more pace, possibly bringing in Navdeep Saini for Washington Sundar or Axar Patel. With both spinners offering valuable depth to the batting line-up and India unlikely to dispense with their ‘go hard or go home’ approach one match in, the choice is more complex than a simple ‘need for speed’.India (possible): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Shreyas Iyer, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shardul Thakur, 8 Washington Sundar/Navdeep Saini, 9 Axar Patel, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalWill India stick with Washington Sundar for the second T20I?•Getty ImagesPitch and conditionsWith an array of pitches available at the vast Narendra Modi Stadium, there’s every chance the second match will be played on a pitch other than the two-paced surface of the first match, on which the spinners were able to extract wickets but England’s seamers dominated with pace and bounce. With a scorching day of 38 degrees Celsius forecast and low humidity, it looks like still being very warm and dry when play commences in the evening.Stats and trivia England have won their last five away T20I series and eight of their last 10 T20I series overall. KL Rahul fell to Jofra Archer for the first time in T20s in the opening match. He has scored 89 runs off 61 balls vs Archer in T20s with 11 fours and three sixes. Yuzvendra Chahal has conceded 82 sixes in 46 T20Is. Only Tim Southee (90 sixes in 78 innings) has conceded more. Virat Kohli needs 72 more runs to become first man to 3000 T20I runsQuotes”It’s nice to get the big players out early doors to keep the crowd quiet. It was nice to get him out very early. If you get a wicket early doors, or if you’re batting and hit some sixes or fours, the crowd goes quiet [and] you can actually hear yourselves talk to each other. That’s not something you can generally do in India… especially if India are going well or taking wickets.”
Adil Rashid on dismissing Kohli in the third over“We have come with a plan and we need to execute it as much as possible. Going into the World Cup, we need to see to it that we have ticked all the boxes. We have to try this as much as possible.”
Shreyas Iyer on India’s desire to test their aggressive batting approach with an even bigger stage in mind