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Newcastle United midfielder Lewis Miley was handed a key role in the club’s first-team last season after various injury issues to key members of Eddie Howe’s squad.

Joelinton missed large parts of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with a thigh issue, with the Brazilian missing over four months of the season before returning to full fitness in the final few outings.

Big-money signing Sandro Tonali only made eight league appearances after his 10-month suspension for breaking betting rules, but the Italian could return in the next couple of weeks.

That allowed 18-year-old Miley to make a total of 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring his first professional goal in the victory over Fulham at St James’ Park.

However, he could be replaced in Howe’s side this season by one player, with the Magpies previously linked with a move to sign the international star before the transfer window closes on August 30th.

Newcastle could land £68m talent this summer

After his stellar tournament for Turkey at Euro 2024 which saw him register three goal contributions, Arda Güler was linked with a move to Newcastle ahead of the upcoming campaign.

It was reported that the 19-year-old Real Madrid ace was the subject of a £68m offer from the Magpies – a deal that would’ve surpassed the fee paid for striker Alexander Isak back in the summer of 2022.

Whilst it’s undoubtedly a huge fee for such a young and inexperienced talent, he would provide a great deal of quality to the Magpies side, with his record of six goals in just ten LaLiga appearances an example of quality he possesses.

Given his latest cameo, it would be an exceptional piece of business, allowing Howe’s side to sign their own version of a player who has burst onto the European scene in recent years.

Why Guler could be Newcastle’s own Bellingham

Since 2020, Jude Bellingham has enjoyed a meteoric rise that has taken him from Championship side Birmingham City to Real Madrid, becoming a crucial player under Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu.

He also starred for England at Euro 2024 this summer, scoring two goals as he helped his nation reach a second successive European Championship final – eventually falling to defeat to Spain.

The 21-year-old may have enjoyed a successful tournament but was unable to better the young Turkish star in numerous key areas for a midfielder – with FBref, ranking the duo as similar players based on their respective figures from the competition.

The “world-class” Guler, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, registered the same number of goals and assists despite featuring in two fewer matches, whilst also averaging more progressive passes per 90 – showcasing his ability to create opportunities for his teammates.

Games played

5

7

Goals + assists

3

3

Progressive passes

5.3

4.9

Shot-creating actions

4.5

2.6

Tackles attempted

2.4

2

Take-on success

47%

46%

Interceptions

0.8

0.5

He also averaged more shot-creating actions whilst completing more of his attempted take-ons, handing Howe that attacking edge from a deep-lying position.

However, the youngster also beat his teammate defensively, making more tackles whilst also completing more interceptions – making him an excellent box-to-box option for the Magpies.

Whilst a deal may cost Howe and Co a huge sum, it certainly would be an excellent pickup, with the 19-year-old easily able to cement himself as a regular starter.

It’s a scary prospect looking at how impressive he’s been in the early stages of his career, potentially reaching the next level should he gain a move to the Premier League this summer. As Micah Richards claimed earlier this year, he's "going to be the next big thing".

Guler has the potential to be a pivotal part of the club’s hunt for a return to the Champions League, possibly able to be a key component to their project over the next decade and beyond.

Miley may have made his mark for the Magpies last season, but it is fair to say that Guler is just a class above.

The next Ben Arfa: Newcastle could land "world-class" £13m sensation

He would be a huge coup for the Magpies.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 14, 2024

Arsenal chiefs believe a £200,000-per-week player will quit the north London club this summer, with further departures on the horizon as sporting director Edu Gaspar continues to reshape the squad.

Players who could still leave Arsenal before deadline day

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares, who both sealed loan moves away from the Emirates Stadium, are two of Arsenal's latest confirmed exits – but many more could follow the duo out.

Arsenal want to use 2023 signing in swap deal bid for "dangerous" £46m ace

The north Londoners’ desire is to offer a makeweight.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 19, 2024

Tavares sealed an initial loan to Lazio, which will become permanent next summer for around £7.5 million, while Lokonga put pen to paper on a temporary deal at Sevilla – which includes a buy-option set at around £10 million.

Both men join young striker Mika Biereth, who sealed a permanent switch to Sturm Graz for around £4 million. Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares also left north London when their contracts expired on June 30, with a few more interesting names tipped to leave as well.

Arsenal's best performers in the Premier League last season
Player	Average match rating
Bukayo Saka	7.67
Declan Rice	7.38
Martin Odegaard	7.37
Kai Havertz	7.16
Gabriel Magalhaes	6.99
WhoScored

Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nkeitah and Emile Smith Rowe have all been linked with high-profile exits too. Nelson is said to have agreed a move to West Ham on personal terms, and the Hammers are pushing to do a deal for him soon.

Meanwhile, reports claim that Arsenal have set a £40 million price tag for Nketiah, amid interest from Marseille in Ligue 1. Tierney is not in Arteta's plans at Arsenal moving forward, and the club are prepared to accept offers for the Scotsman.

There is also the matter of midfielder Thomas Partey. The 31-year-old made just 14 Premier League appearances under Arteta last season, which was largely down to fitness issues, but he's also entered the final year of his contract.

Arsenal risk losing Partey for nothing next summer, which could be something they're willing to do, given just how important he's been in recent years. An experienced figurehead and proven back-up option like the Ghanaian could be invaluable for Arteta, yet Emirates Stadium chiefs could also be tempted to sell if a reasonable bid comes in.

Arsenal expect Thomas Partey to leave this summer

It's been a while since we've had any definitive update on his future at London Colney, but The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey have now provided some clarity on the situation.

The outlet claims Arsenal chiefs expect Partey to leave and are confident he will go, amid rumoured interest from Saudi Arabian and Turkish sides. However, if the club are unable to find a buyer for the £200,000-per-week African, then they would also be happy to keep him in the squad for another season ahead of another Premier League title race with Man City.

Partey has made 115 appearances for the club since joining for £45 million from Atletico Madrid in 2020, with La Liga expert Gerry Armstrong calling him "sensational".

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.

Better than Gnonto: Everton in advanced talks for "world-class" ace

Sean Dyche is closing in on his fourth signing of the summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 19, 2024

The start of the new Premier League season remains just under a month away, yet Manchester United appear keen to get their business done swiftly now that Euro 2024 and the Copa America have drawn to a close, with Leny Yoro edging closer to becoming the club's second signing of the window.

Shock horror, the teenage centre-back – who is set to sign on an initial £52m deal from Ligue 1 side Lille – is neither Dutch nor has any prior Eredivisie connections, with this high-profile coup looking like a deal that has INEOS, rather than Erik ten Hag, written all over it.

32 games (30 starts)

2 goals

0 assists

92% pass accuracy rate

13 clean sheets

1.1 tackles per game

1.1 interceptions per game

3.9 balls recovered per game

65% aerial duels won

63% total duels won

With the 18-year-old's impending arrival set to follow the £36.5m capture of Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, it remains to be seen what Dan Ashworth and co will have left in the coffers to pursue further targets, although that has not prevented speculation regarding additional recruits making their way to Manchester.

Latest on Man Utd's midfield search

With the backline and the attacking ranks having already been strengthened, the next issue now appears to be bolstering the midfield unit, with the ageing duo of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen seemingly up for grabs, while Scott McTominay is believed to be generating significant interest at present.

As per Sky Sports, the Red Devils have reportedly rejected a bid of around £17m from Fulham for the Scotland international, with the Cottagers now debating whether to return with an improved offer for the 27-year-old.

This piece adds that with McTominay's future in doubt, United continue to keep tabs on Paris Saint-Germain star, Manuel Ugarte, having kept up contact with the French outfit over the potential signing of the £38m Uruguayan.

How Ugarte compares to Scott McTominay

Now, it must be said off the bat that Ugarte would not necessarily represent a direct replacement for McTominay in the centre of the park, with the latter man having typically operated in a more advanced attacking berth last season – culminating in career-best figures of ten goals in all competitions.

That said, much of the in-demand talent's work for the Old Trafford side has come at the base of the midfield in years gone by, while it is difficult to see him ousting either Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo in those more advanced roles on a permanent basis.

As such, the main hope of McTominay nailing a starting berth would be in place of Casemiro in front of the back four, yet in that regard, Ugarte – who has been lauded for his "relentless" approach by writer Zach Lowy – would represent a significant upgrade.

That can be seen by the fact that in relation to his peers across Europe's top five leagues, the former Sporting CP warrior ranks in the top 1% for interceptions and the top 4% for tackles made per 90, with McTominay, meanwhile, ranking in just bottom 51% and the bottom 17% for those same two metrics, respectively.

What also sets the PSG man apart is the innate quality that he showcases on the ball, ranking in the top 5% across the last 365 days for pass completion (91.2% average), with his United counterpart ranking in just the bottom 44% (81% average) in that regard.

As Lowy also noted, there are games where it "seems he’s doing the defensive work of two players", such is Ugarte's presence as that midfield pivot, with such an addition no doubt needed after United were repeatedly left exposed last season – the midfield having been described as "non-existent" by Gary Neville at one stage.

With Ugarte a more natural fit to operate as a defensive-minded asset – while McTominay is something of an all-action, box-crashing threat – there would be wisdom in cashing in on the academy graduate to fund the Red Devils' pursuit.

Man Utd want to sign £84m "superstar" who's more exciting than Yoro

Manchester United are closing in on their second signing of the summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jul 17, 2024

The last few years have seen Arsenal slowly build themselves back up from midtable mediocrity into one of the most exciting teams in Europe, and they've done so thanks to Mikel Arteta and a cohort of incredibly talented players.

Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Jesus are just some of the stars that have helped turn the Gunners into genuine Premier League title challengers and one of the most attractive destinations for talented and enterprising players.

However, based on a recent report, the North Londoners could be in for a fight to keep hold of one of their own stars in the years to come, in a potential transfer reminiscent of Cesc Fàbregas' over a decade ago.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report late last week from Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Barcelona are plotting 'an ambitious project' that will attract the world's best players back to the Catalans over the next three years.

This plan is based on a lucrative new kit deal with Nike that is supposedly set to land the La Liga giants around €150m a season, which converts to a cool £127m.

The two primary targets for this plan named in the report are Manchester City's inhuman goal machine Erling Haaland and Arsenal's defensive titan William Saliba.

Luckily for the Gunners, their much-improved stature in world football over the last few years and Barcelona's falling reputation and precarious financial situation make this potential scenario look unlikely – at least for a few seasons.

However, if the Blaugrana's plan does come to fruition, and they can inject massive amounts of money into the first team, it could start to feel reminiscent of Fàbregas' transfer saga all those years ago.

Saliba's parallels to Fàbregas

It feels like a lifetime ago that Arsenal paid Saint-Étienne £27m for Saliba, and in the world of football, five years is pretty much a lifetime.

In the years that followed, the Frenchman was sent out on loan to Les Vertz, Olympique de Marseille and OGC Nice before finally being given a chance to play for the Gunners on the opening day of the 2022/23 season – a game away to Crystal Palace in which he won the Player of the Match award.

He'd go on to make 33 appearances for the North Londoners and play a key role in their surprising title charge, for which he was awarded a brand new four-year £190k-per-week contract.

It was more of the same last season, although, without any injury setbacks, he started 100% of the club's league games and played 100% of the available league minutes, more than repaying his bumper pay rise.

He might still be just 23 years old, but as U23 scout Antonio Mango says, he's "one of the best in the world" and helped Arteta create the best defence in the league last season, so any talk of losing him to Barcelona in the future is far from ideal.

The last major and relatively young star the club lost to Barcelona was former Spanish international Fàbregas, who, at 24, joined the Catalan side in 2011 for around £35m.

Arsenal

303

57

94

0.49

Barcelona

151

42

50

0.60

Chelsea

198

22

57

0.39

AS Monaco

68

4

9

0.19

Como

17

0

2

0.11

The 37-year-old made 303 appearances for the Gunners in the eight years he spent with the club, scoring 57 goals and providing 94 assists, but as a Catalonian native, the call of the Blaugrana was too great, especially as they were in the midst of a truly golden period at the time.

However, that is Arsenal's major advantage should the La Liga side come calling anytime soon. They are nowhere near the appealing prospect they once were, while the Gunners have come on leaps and bounds and look destined to end their title drought in the coming seasons.

Ultimately, the two major Spanish teams have always pillaged the best players from the Premier League, but with English football becoming increasingly dominant in recent years and the positive progression under Arteta, Arsenal have a chance to stop a Fàbregas repeat and keep Saliba at the Emirates for years to come.

Arsenal keen on “insane” Gyokeres alternative who’d save them millions

The “outrageous” forward was incredible last season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 24, 2024

Bukayo Saka has withdrawn from the England squad after suffering a suspected hamstring injury for England against Greece.

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• Saka appeared to injure hamstring against Greece
• Winger withdraws from England squad
• Arsenal face another international break injury scare

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Saka limped off the field just after half-time in England's shock 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley and, not fit enough to be considered for the game against Finland on Saturday, has withdrawn from the squad. His injury sparked immediate concern amongst Arsenal fans but those fears have been calmed by the England interim boss Lee Carsley who claimed his withdrawal is just precautionary.

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  WHAT CARSLEY SAID

  On Saka's injury, Carsley said: "Bukayo would have been close [to playing against Finland] but it would have been unfair to take a risk with him. He’s a positive person and I expect him to be fine."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After an injury to Martin Odegaard for Norway at the last international break ruled the Gunners captain out for a number of months, the Arsenal fans were quick to panic at the sight of yet another one of their star players injured on international duty. But according to the Mirror, England medical staff believe Saka might have been ready for the Finland game but didn't want to take a gamble.

  Saka has been superb for the Gunners this season, assisting seven goals in seven games in addition to scoring two of his own, and stepped up in the absence of Odegaard. The Gunners have navigated a tricky period without their captain but will be massively relieved that Saka may well be fit enough to return as early as next weekend against Bournemouth.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SAKA?

  The winger is now in a race to be fit enough to return for the Gunners as they travel to take on the Cherries on Saturday evening. The Gunners then face a tricky spell as they take on Shakhtar Donetsk, Liverpool, Preston North End, Newcastle, Inter Milan and Chelsea in the space of three weeks. Mikel Arteta will be hopeful that Saka will be fit enough to start most, if not all, of those fixtures.

Adam Lyth’s 71 not enough as hosts gun down 189 target at Grace Road

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2020Leicestershire moved ahead of Yorkshire into third place in the North Group after a thrilling last-ball Vitality Blast victory at the Fischer County Ground.The home side started slowly in pursuit of 189 to win before half-centuries from Gareth Delany and Colin Ackermann swung the contest round to the extent that victory seemed a formality with 26 needed from the final three overs.A flurry of wickets – four in the space of three overs – then left the outcome in the balance with nine required from the last six deliveries, which looked to have been just too many for the Foxes until Ben Mike went for broke off the final ball, launching Adam Lyth over his head for six to win the contest.Lyth earlier had given the Vikings innings the platform for a substantial total with 71 off 46 balls with three sixes after he and skipper David Willey had added 70 in 41 deliveries for the second wicket. The innings lost some momentum in the middle overs but Jordan Thompson flung the bat and rode his luck with 44 off 19 balls, with four maximums as he and Jonny Tattersall added 64 off the final 31 balls of the innings. Seamer Will Davis and legspinner Delany claimed two wickets each.Having been asked to bat first when the Foxes won the toss, the Vikings had an excellent Powerplay, piling on 67 runs for the loss of only wicket, thanks largely to a 24-ball half-century from one-time England opener Lyth that included five fours and two enormous sixes behind square on the leg side. The only casualty was Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who chipped straight to extra cover.Davis was the successful bowler, striking with his first delivery, and it was the brisk right-arm seamer who made the second breakthrough in the 10th over as Willey fell for a useful 27 off 17 balls, chopping on to a slow yorker. Willey had survived a very difficult caught-and-bowled chance when he drove down the ground to Delany’s legspin, before Lyth picked up his third maximum, just clearing the fielder at deep midwicket. The Vikings were 98 for 2 at halfway.A couple of tight overs from spinners Callum Parkinson and Ackermann then put the brake on the scoring rate before Delany claimed the vital wicket of Lyth for 71, this time holing out to deep backward square. A smart piece of fielding by Ackermann then ran out Will Fraine at the non-striker’s end before the batsman had faced and after Delany claimed a second wicket with Harry Brook caught at long-on the Vikings were 126 for 5 after 15.But new batsman Thompson started the scoreboard moving again with consecutive sixes off Parkinson before repeating the trick off Davis. Tattersall also picked up his first maximum, the sixth-wicket pair giving the card a much better look for Yorkshire, adding 64 off 31 balls before Thompson skied the last delivery of the 20 overs, eventually caught by wicketkeeper Lewis Hill for 44 off 19 deliveries.The task facing the Foxes was to score at 9.45 runs per over. The requirement was up to 10.14 at the end of the Powerplay, despite Lilley laying into both Ben Coad – playing in his first domestic T20 for three years – and Matthew Fisher with the first sixes of the innings after Harry Dearden was caught at long-on.Delany clubbed six over long-on in Jack Shutt’s opening over as Willey turned to his spinners but the offspinner then had some good fortune when Lilley smacked a waist-high full toss straight to deep midwicket. But Delany was in the mood to take the initiative.An expansive swing brought him a second maximum as Thompson took over from Shutt, the ball bouncing on the roof of The Meet before he launched another huge straight hit over the indoor school as Shutt switched ends, the Irishman completing a 32-ball half-century with his fourth four. After another expensive over from Coad, the Foxes needed 75 from 48 balls, now ahead of the rate.Josh Poysden’s legspin briefly threatened to stall the home side’s progress but the batsmen compensated with a furious assault in Thompson’s next over, which went for 28 as Ackermann cleared the ropes twice with some colossal blows and Delany picked up his fourth six, bringing the target down to 42 off six overs.Willey brought himself back into the attack and was rewarded when Delany finally sent one soaring into the night sky for Tattersall to catch on the way down but the Irishman’s 64 off 41 balls looked like a match-winning innings. Willey conceded only three off the over, but the third wicket had added 89 and the Foxes remained favourites, Ackermann going to his fifty off 29 balls.Yet three wickets in the space of nine deliveries turned the pressure back on to Leicestershire as Tom Taylor, Lewis Hill and Harry Swindells departed in quick succession as Coad and Fisher suddenly turned the screw, leaving the Foxes needing 20 off 12 deliveries.Mike relieved the pressure with a substantial six over square leg, then the loss of Ackermann, leg before to Willey, giving the finish another twist. Willey trusted Lyth’s offspin for the final over, and it seemed to have paid off until, needing three off the last ball, Mike swung and connected perfectly, the ball still rising as it cleared the rope at long-on.

Lionel Messi admits that he "missed nights like this" during his injury break, as he marked his return with a brace against the Philadelphia Union.

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• Miami beat Union 3-1 on Messi's return
• Argentine bagged a brace and an assist
• Out of action for two months due to injury

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi made a triumphant return to the pitch, scoring twice in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory against Union in Major League Soccer (MLS). He had remained sidelined for eight games following a severe ankle injury sustained during Argentina’s Copa America final win over Colombia in July and on his return the forward reminded everyone why he remains one of the most revered players in the game.

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• WHAT MESSI SAID

  Following the match, Messi shared his emotions about being back on the field, expressing how much he missed playing in front of fans.

  “I miss nights like this,” Messi wrote on Instagram along with a carousel of pictures from the match.

  “We keep adding together to achieve our goals.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Inter Miami’s victory over the Philadelphia Union further solidified their place in the MLS playoffs. With a seven-point cushion over the LA Galaxy, the team is poised to finish the season on a high note. With Messi once again available for selection, they are also on track to set a single-season points record of 62, an achievement that would cap off an impressive campaign for the club under the guidance of head coach Tata Martino.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?

  Messi will be back in action when Inter Miami will face Atlanta United on Wednesday, September 18. With the team already locked in for the playoffs, Messi’s presence could be the key to securing the ultimate prize — the MLS Cup.

They will receive a monthly stipend of PKR 25,000 (approx US$150) each from August to October

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2020To fight with the economic challenges thrown up by the Covid-19 pandemic, the PCB has announced a three-month financial support package for 25 unemployed national women cricketers. Under this scheme, the players who meet the eligibility criteria such as featuring in the 2019-20 domestic season, and are presently without a contract for the 2020-21 season as well as a day job or business, will receive a monthly stipend of PKR 25,000 (approx US$150) each from August to October.In June, the PCB had announced a list of women’s contracted players, which included nine centrally contracted cricketers and as many emerging contracted players. These are 12-month contracts, which commenced on July 1. The latest PCB decision takes the count of women cricketers receiving PCB support to 43.”The Covid-19 pandemic has brought a halt to all women cricketing activities worldwide. This has adversely affected our women cricketers, some of whom are the sole breadwinners of their families,” Urooj Mumtaz Khan, the head of the PCB women’s wing, said in a statement issued by the board.”As the women’s game is making steady progress, it was imperative that the PCB came up with this scheme to not only protect and support our players but to also make them understand and realise that the PCB values them and will look after them in difficult times.”Forty-eight players featured in the 2019-20 national domestic season out of which 25 became eligible to benefit from the scheme. The remaining players are either contracted by the PCB or employed elsewhere.”In May, the PCB had offered one-time support to 161 stakeholders through an identical scheme, including former men’s first-class cricketers, match officials, scorers and curators.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is said to be upset with the board, as they're ready to green-light the sale of a key star this summer amid PSR concerns.

Pochettino praises Chelsea form as European football possible

The mood around Stamford Bridge has been lifted somewhat recently, with Pochettino overseeing a good run of form and qualification for next season's Europa Conference League – or even better – now in their grasp.

Talks ongoing as Chelsea ready £65 million bid to sign Real Madrid target

The west Londoners want to beat both Carlo Ancelotti and Paris-Saint Germain to his signature.

ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2024

While a section of supporters would still like to see Pochettino replaced ahead of 2024/2025, if Chelsea decide to stick with the Argentine past their end-of-season review next week, there is certainly something to build upon.

Chelsea have lost just once in the Premier League since mid-February, winning eight out of their last 14 top flight matches and drawing the other five.

Brighton 1-2 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea

Chelsea 5-0 West Ham

Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham

Aston Villa 2-2 Chelsea

The vast majority of their victories in that time have come at home, but Chelsea's form on the road is now showing signs of improvement with consecutive away wins at the expense of Nottingham Forest and Brighton.

Following their latest triumph at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday evening, with the Blues sealing a 2-1 victory against Brighton thanks to goals from Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku, Pochettino has praised Chelsea's recent performances.

"Full credit to the players, we fully deserved the victory, that's why I'm so happy and it allows us to dream to play in Europe next season," said Pochettino to Sky Sports (via TNT).

"We need to think about recovery and keep the mentality of going to win and see what happens. The most important thing is belief and performances and the performances and results are really good. We dominated from the beginning against a team that's not easy to play, that's why we're so proud and so happy. The evolution of the team is there."

If Chelsea do seal a Conference League place for next term, which looks pretty likely barring a final day disaster, Pochettino will need summer backing in the transfer market with the extra layer of games.

It is believed Pochettino personally wants Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo to replace Thiago Silva, as the 52-year-old makes plans despite some uncertainty regarding his future. However, there is the club's potential PSR battle to consider, and Pochettino could end up waving goodbye to a host of star players as Todd Boehly looks to balance the books by June 30.

Pochettino livid with Chelsea board ready to green-light Gallagher sale

Boehly has already been forced into selling Armando Broja at a discounted rate, down from his £50 million price tag in January, with TEAMtalk now sharing an update on Conor Gallagher.

They claim Pochettino is "fuming" with the Chelsea board ready to sanction Gallagher's sale – despite his importance to the team. They're demanding around £50 million to let him go, which would go on the books as pure profit, and their London rivals are taking note of this situation.

It's added this feud between Pochettino and Chelsea chiefs could add fuel to the fire regarding his tenuous position as head coach, with the end of season review looking even more crucial now.