Yorkshire dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on a four-wicket Vitality County Championship victory over Division Two pacesetters Sussex at Scarborough during the fourth morning to boost their hopes of promotion.Resuming on 28 for 2 from 10 overs in pursuit of 103, the home side clinched a 21-point haul in exactly an hour’s play despite losing four wickets to offspinner Jack Carson.Opener Adam Lyth top-scored with 40 as Yorkshire claimed their third successive Championship victory dating back to June, consigning the league leaders to only a second defeat in 10 matches this season. The excellent Carson claimed his four consolatory wickets to finish with a career-best 9 for 120 in the match.Yorkshire started this fixture in third, 27 points behind Sussex, but are now only nine adrift with four rounds remaining.The White Rose county have won three Championship matches in a row for the first time since the early stages of 2021 when they beat Kent and Sussex away and Northamptonshire at Headingley.Upon clinching victory, Yorkshire moved to second in the in-play Division Two table – but dropped back to third after Middlesex beat Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.Yorkshire and Middlesex face each other at Headingley from Thursday. Sussex, meanwhile, host Derbyshire at Hove next as they look to bounce back from a first defeat since May.Lyth set the tone in the day’s third over when he took back-to-back boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat’s left-arm seam – one flicked to fine-leg and the other cut through backward point.He then pulled Carson over midwicket and cut Ollie Robinson over backward point for sixes in the following two overs, taking the score to 59 for 2. The writing was on the wall for Sussex.They actually started the day minus three on the over rate, with counties deducted a point for each over they are behind the rate.So it was no surprise to see Carson employed early by captain John Simpson in a bid to speed things up. Realistically, improving that was their main target for the day, and they achieved it.Although Lyth led the way, he was importantly helped out by nightwatcher Dan Moriarty, who contributed 17 to a third-wicket partnership of 51. They came together at 18 for 2 late on day three and extinguished Sussex’s slim hopes of a turnaround.Moriarty, Yorkshire’s regular No. 11, was lbw to Carson – 69 for 3 – before the same bowler had Lyth caught behind down leg at the second attempt by Simpson with a further seven runs added to the total.Carson also trapped James Wharton lbw to bring Jonny Bairstow to the crease with only eight to win, and he holed out to deep midwicket for a two-ball duck. Yorkshire captain Jonny Tattersall hit the winning runs.
نجح فريق البنك الأهلي، في تحقيق الفوز على بتروجيت بثلاثية دون رد، خلال المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
والتقى البنك الأهلي مع بتروجيت، على أرضية استاد بتروسبوت، ضمن مواجهات الجولة السادسة من بطولة الدوري الممتاز.
وجاء هدف البنك الأهلي الأول في الدقيقة 56 عن طريق مصطفى الزناري، بعد كرة عرضية من إسحاق يعقوب قابلها الزناري برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء سكنت المرمى.
طالع أيضاً.. بعد إعلان رحيله.. ماذا قدم محمود الخطيب في 8 سنوات برئاسة النادي الأهلي؟
وفي الدقيقة 79 أضاف أحمد أمين “أوفا” الهدف الثاني، بعد أسيست من مصطفى شلبي بتمريرة سحرية قابلها أحمد أمين بتسديدة داخل الشباك.
وسجل محمود عماد الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 85 من تصويبة رائعة خارج منطقة الجزاء سكنت الشباك.
بتلك النتيجة، يحتل بتروجيت المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 9 نقاط، بينما يتواجد البنك الأهلي بالمركز الثامن، ولديه 7 نقاط. أهداف مباراة البنك الأهلي وبتروجيت في الدوري المصري
Liverpool aren’t messing about this summer, pulling in high-level signings from every which way. However, this is not so much scattergun spending as the product of calculated, expeditious planning.
Florian Wirtz, for example, was brought in from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, the British record, after Jeremie Frimpong’s £29.5m release clause was activated. Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez has since finalised his move to Merseyside.
While Wirtz is the cream of the crop, heralded as a “generational talent” by Bundesliga commentator Dan O’Hagan, Liverpool still need a striker, especially as uncertainty around Luis Diaz’s future continues to rumble on.
Why Liverpool need a striker
Arne Slot led Liverpool to the Premier League title last season without a focal frontman. Well, without an in-form central striker, at least. Such were Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez’s woes that Diaz was redefined as a false nine, almost exclusively used on the left wing by Jurgen Klopp.
Mohamed Salah
38
29
18
Luis Diaz
36
13
7
Cody Gakpo
35
10
5
Diogo Jota
26
6
4
Darwin Nunez
30
5
3
Federico Chiesa
6
–
1
So then, it seems pretty justified that Slot wants a new centre-forward, especially as Nunez is currently in the process of signing for Napoli, a move that’s definitely not done yet.
And with Diaz also facing rumours of a summer exit, FSG are perhaps going to need to dip into the coffers once again. Slot’s Colombian star, who is 28, is frustrated that Liverpool are prepared to run his contract down, expiring in two years, instead of cashing in or discussing a renewal, and would consider leaving as Barcelona and Saudi Arabian suitors circle.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
We all know Alexander Isak is the glinting jewel in the eyes of Liverpool’s overlords, but Newcastle United aren’t really willing to part with their star man, pricing him at an exorbitant £200m.
Luckily, Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, knows his stuff and has already earmarked an exciting alternative.
Liverpool eyeing Isak alternative
As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are interested in signing Benjamin Sesko this summer, having done their due diligence on the RB Leipzig striker.
Newcastle are ready to make Isak the highest-paid player in their history, so it makes sense that Hughes has turned toward Sesko.
The Slovenian star is only 22 but has made waves in the Bundesliga over the past couple of years. It must be said that Arsenal are leading the race, with Sesko valued between £68-85m, but Liverpool may yet shift the odds by tabling an official offer.
Why Liverpool want Benjamin Sesko
Sesko isn’t the only striker on Liverpool’s radar. In fact, Bailey’s above-mentioned report reveals an interest in Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres too, but the 27-year-old Sweden international would be the wrong choice for FSG to make.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates
Now, Sesko is still loading on the striking scene, but he’s already revealed himself to be a sensation in the making in Germany, hailed as a ball-striking “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson after scoring 39 goals and adding eight assists across 81 Leipzig appearances.
Athletic, powerful and rangy, Sesko has all the properties to become a superstar on Premier League shores, even dubbed “the new Haaland” by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
RB Leipzig
24/25
45
21
RB Leipzig
23/24
42
18
RB Salzburg
22/23
41
18
RB Salzburg
20/21
37
11
RB Salzburg
20/21
1
0
FC Liefering
20/21
29
21
FC Liefering
19/20
15
1
Manchester City’s goalscoring talisman needs no introduction, and if Liverpool could get their hands on their own version, Slot would move one step closer to defending his Premier League title.
It might seem that Gyokeres would be the better pick for the Merseysiders; he’s scored 97 goals across 102 matches for Sporting, after all.
However, this isn’t so. Liverpool, let’s not forget, signed Nunez after his 34-goal campaign with Portuguese giants Benfica in 2021/22, and for a towering £64m fee (the full £85m payment has not been reached).
Nunez’s prolific streak over on Iberian territory hasn’t translated to life in the Premier League, where life is tougher, the opponents stronger, the pace faster. A maverick though he is, Nunez has struggled to bring it all together, not just profligate but prone to drifting through games.
The 6 foot 4 Sesko might not be the finished article, but he’s definitely got more about him from an athletic standpoint, ranked among the top 11% of centre-forwards across Europe last season for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Of course, to discredit Gyokeres’ qualities simply because he walks the same ground as Nunez before him would make a feeble argument, but he’s 27 and has yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s big five leagues, whereas Sesko has demonstrated his qualities in Germany, scoring incredible strikes such as this one against Bayern Munich.
Furthermore, Sesko only failed to convert ten big chances in the Bundesliga last term, as per Sofascore, scoring 13 times. This illustrates a natural-born goalscoring prowess, of course, but also composure and the level-headedness required to hit the ground running in the Premier League. Gyokeres, for comparison, missed 23 big chances over in Portugal.
With a Haaland-esque style of play and several years of invaluable experience cutting his teeth in Germany’s top flight, Sesko is ready to make the leap over to England and start expanding his potential on the European stage.
While Sesko is raw, an uncut gem, he’s a jewel all the same, and one who would arrive at an Anfield side both fronted by an elite coach in Slot and thick with incredible creative players such as Wirtz and Mohamed Salah.
Gordon upgrade: Liverpool open first talks to sign "generational" £85m star
Liverpool might need to replace the sought-after Luis Diaz in the summer transfer market.
Japanese striker Shin Yamada is set to arrive in Glasgow this week, ahead of finalising a £1.2m move from Asian Champions League finalists Kawasaki Frontale.
Celticmanager BrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup
He becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer so far, after Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura; the latter has also arrived from the J League.
However, following Wednesday’s friendly victory over Sporting CP in the Algarve, while acknowledging that Yamada is on his way, Brendan Rodgers stated that he wants “to add [more] to our front line”, so could his number one target soon follow?
Celtic targeting more firepower
In that same aforementioned interview following the mid-week win at Estádio Algarve, Rodgers stated “we’ve lost a lot of goals” and he’s not wrong, as the table below outlines.
Celtic’s top-scorer of Brendan Rodgers’ second spell
Players
Goals (23/24 & 24/25)
Are they still at Celtic?
Daizen Maeda
43
Yes
Kyōgo Furuhashi
31
No
Adam Idah
29
Yes
Nicolas Kühn
24
No
Matt O’Riley
19
No
Reo Hatate
14
Yes
Callum McGregor
12
Yes
Arne Engels
10
Yes
Luis Palma
10
Yes*
*is expected to depart
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, three of Celtic’s top five scorers from across the last two seasons combined have departed, after Nicolas Kühn was sold to Como for a reported fee of £16.4m earlier this month.
Meantime, Luis Palma, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Olympiacos, but did score ten times the year before, could be on his way to Lech Poznań, with the Ekstraklasa champions looking to take the Honduran international on loan with a £4m option to buy included, according to journalist Sebastian Staszewski.
Celtic forward Luis Palma.
Thus, new wingers have to be a priority, hence why Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports believes Celtic remain interested in signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
Speaking on Off The Underside earlier this week, he stated that the Hoops have “been monitoring [Balikwisha] for quite a while” and are currently “weighing up” whether or not to pay the £5m it would require to sign him, adding that the Belgian “would like to join Celtic”.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Suffice to say, Celtic have a long-standing interest in the Royal Antwerp winger, with Sacha Tavolieri of RMC Sport reporting as long ago as 10 June that the Hoops were “in the race” to sign him and that “discussions regarding personal terms” had already begun.
So, will the Scottish Premiership champions, finally, land their man?
How Michel-Ange Balikwisha would improve Celtic
Since joining Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2021, Balikwisha has made 141 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals and registering 17 assists.
He was a key figure in the Antwerp side that won the Jupiler Pro League two years ago, scoring ten times that season, claiming the club’s first top-flight title since 1957.
During that same year, Balikwisha scored in the Coupe de Belgique Final victory over Mechelen and the Belgische Supercup as they defeated the same opposition a few months later, also netting the clincher in the Champions League play-off round victory over AEK Athens, before also scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk at Bosuilstadion during the group phase.
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout praises his “pace, dribbling and finishing”, describing these as his primary attributes, while analyst Ben Mattinson labels him “two-footed” and “capable of beating a defender”.
Now though, with only one year remaining on his contract, and with Antwerp having failed to qualify for European competition, they are surely looking to cash in while they still can.
The question still remains however: is he a bigger talent than Yamada? Well, let’s assess their respective career statistics to answer that question.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha vs Shin Yamada career statistics
Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Competitions
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Jupiler Pro League
146
33
16
UEFA Champions League
5
1
0
UEFA Europa League
7
10
0
UEFA competition qualifiers
10
2
5
Belgian Cup & SuperCup
13
3
1
Total
181
38
21
Shin Yamada
Competitions
Appearances
Goals
Assists
J League
85
25
5
AFC Champions League
17
2
4
Emperor’s Cup
11
9
0
J League Cup & SuperCup
12
1
0
Total
121
37
9
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, even though Yamada is a year older, Balikwisha boasts the greater high-level experience.
The Belgian has played in the Champions League, making 22 appearances in UEFA competitions for Standard Liège and current employers Antwerp all told, while scoring one more career goal in total.
Also, for comparison, according to Global Football Rankings, the Belgian top-flight is the eighth-strongest league in the world, with the J League down in 23rd, still 20 places higher than the Premiership, it must be said.
This is not to denigrate Yamada, nor suggest he won’t be a good signing, but Balikwisha, unlike the striker, has proven himself at a higher level, so would surely be worth paying the £5m fee, especially given the wide-attacker is such a position of urgent need.
Bad news for Idah: Celtic set to complete another "fantastic" signing
As Brendan Rodgers looks to add more firepower to his team, Celtic are set to sign a “natural finisher”, potentially as an Adam Idah upgrade
The ICC is expected to make a decision this week on where the tournament is hosted
Andrew McGlashan19-Aug-20241:23
Healy: ‘I just want to create a really connected group’
Australia captain Alyssa Healy has said it feels like the “wrong thing” to host the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh as the country continues to deal with the consequences of the recent violence which led to hundreds of deaths and the ousting of the government.The ICC is expected to make a decision this week on where the tournament will be hosted with UAE considered the favourite after BCCI declined a request. Sri Lanka is another option while Zimbabwe has emerged as a potential late solution.The Australian government is among those including the UK and India to have issued warnings about traveling to Bangladesh.Related
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“I find it really hard to see a cricket event going on over there at the moment and taking resources away from a country that is really struggling,” Healy said. “They’re needing everyone they can possibly get in there helping people that are dying.””I’d find it hard to fathom playing there at the moment, as a human being, I feel like it might be the wrong thing to do. But I’ll leave it to the ICC to work out.”Speaking on Sunday, allrounder Sophie Molineux said players had been kept in the loop.”We’ve been [in] chats with Cricket Australia and they’re doing a lot of work with the ICC, and we’ve got full faith that they’ll come up with the right decision for everyone.”Australia will name their World Cup squad next Monday and Healy was confident they would be able to adapt to whichever country ended up hosting. They had seen their tour of Bangladesh earlier this year where they played three ODIs and three T20Is as a key fact-finding mission.”I feel like we’re so well balanced in the…players that we get to choose from, wherever the World Cup gets put, I think we’re going to have the right squad to take it on,” Healy said. “We’re obviously blessed we got to Bangladesh and got a taste of those conditions. But wherever we get put, we’ll be ready to adapt.”Meanwhile, England captain Heather Knight said that if the replacement venue was UAE then she does not expect vastly different conditions to those in Bangladesh.It is expected Australia will name a settled squad. Fast bowler Darcie Brown is set to be available after spending the winter recovering from a stress fracture of her foot which kept her out of the Bangladesh tour. Molineux (rib) and Grace Harris (calf strain) were also recently ruled out of the Hundred through injury, but neither are considered a major doubt for the World Cup.Jess Jonassen was the significant omission from the previous squad for Bangladesh and she is likely to find it hard to squeeze back in for the World Cup barring injuries with Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Alana King and Ashleigh Gardner the spin options. The World Cup squad will also play the three T20Is against New Zealand in September which act as preparation for the tournament.
Liverpool don’t want to sell Luis Diaz this summer, but they might have to. Keeping a player on the books whose heart is set elsewhere is an ill-fated move, and the Colombian wants to leave Anfield.
You can see his case. Aged 28, Diaz is one of the finest wingers in the game, but he earns a comparatively modest salary at Liverpool and has entered the second-to-last year of his contract.
Diaz wants a pay rise, but Liverpool aren’t inclined to give him one, instead willing to see out his contract.
1
Mohamed Salah
£400,000
£20,800,000
2
Virgil Van Dijk
£350,000
£18,200,000
3
Florian Wirtz
£195,000
£10,140,000
4
Andrew Robertson
£160,000
£8,320,000
=5
Alexis Mac Allister
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Alisson
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Ryan Gravenberch
£150,000
£7,800,000
=5
Federico Chiesa
£150,000
£7,800,000
16*
Luis Diaz
£55,000
£2,860,000
He was a crucial part of last season’s success. Diaz scored 17 goals and supplied eight assists across all competitions for Liverpool, his best return for the club.
His electric pace, tenacious fight and versatility proved perfect for Arne Slot as the Dutch coach led the Reds to the Premier League title.
Luis Diaz
But Bayern Munich are persistent in their bid to sign the Colombian winger, having already seen a £58.5m bid knocked back this summer.
However, Sky Germany confirm that the Bundesliga champions continue to push, and with Liverpool set to sign a new striker, perhaps his sale for a mammoth fee wouldn’t be such a bad thing in the long run.
The latest on Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been one of the more coveted names on the market this summer. Manchester United and Newcastle United have both shown an interest, but it’s the Reds who will likely prevail, the Frenchman submitting a transfer request on Thursday to seal a deal with the Anfield side.
Valued at €100m (£85m) Ekitike will cost a pretty penny, all right, but he’s worth it, already regarded “one of the best strikers out there” by analyst Ben Mattinson.
While Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has been sporting director Richard Hughes’ first choice, the Magpies have rejected Liverpool’s advances, so the Reds have stolen their top target instead.
He’s not as good as Isak, but the 23-year-old does have sky-high potential, the genuine chance to make headway over a number of years at Liverpool and reach that pedestal.
While Diaz spent a fair share of time as a makeshift striker in 2024/25, he is at his core a left-sided forward. With Darwin Nunez supposedly off as well, Liverpool might need to sign a winger to go alongside Ekitike.
Liverpool line up Luis Diaz heir
According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, Liverpool have retained an interest in signing Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, having come close to signing him one year ago.
The England international, 24, is valued at £75m and any concrete move is dependent on Diaz’s future. However, the long-standing interest and Gordon’s Merseyside affiliation could see him push for a return to Anfield, having left Liverpool’s academy as an 11-year-old.
While Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is also on Liverpool’s radar, with preliminary talks having taken place, Gordon might be the man to go for.
Why Liverpool want Anthony Gordon
In Cody Gakpo, Liverpool have a prolific and proven left winger. However, Diaz’s departure would call for a direct replacement, and while Rodrygo would be a stunning signing, Arsenal also have a vested interest, and Real Madrid are seeking upwards of £87m.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
Gordon would be a more than acceptable fallback. A high-speed runner with a dogged approach to his football, the Newcastle star has bloomed into one of the Premier League’s finest over the past couple of years, with teammate Bruno Guimaraes describing him as “special”.
Technically sharp and physically robust, he certainly fits the mould that Diaz would leave behind, and this dynamic skill set could be the perfect thing for a young striker in Ekitike, who will need support as he steps into the cauldron of fire that is the English top flight.
Ekitike will, of course, have the likes of Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz to lead the supply line, but in Gordon, Liverpool could retain the sense of energy and completeness that Diaz brings to the table.
And anyway, the Toon talent has already demonstrated in the Premier League that he’s capable of throwing down with the likes of Diaz, and indeed Rodrygo, whose skill has led Luka Modric to describe him as a “world-class superstar” in La Liga.
Anthony Gordon
Let’s dig a little deeper. Now, we’re going to skew the data a tad. Gordon’s 2024/25 campaign left plenty to be desired, but he was a force to be reckoned with the season prior.
Looking at that 2023/24 term, comparing it to Rodrygo and Diaz’s league efforts last term, we can see that he’s got the potential to make quite the impression at Liverpool.
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
30 (22)
36 (28)
Goals
11
6
13
Assists
10
5
5
Shots (on target)*
2.3 (0.9)
1.8 (0.7)
2.0 (0.8)
Big chances missed
9
1
11
Pass completion
82%
91%
86%
Big chances created
16
5
8
Key passes*
1.6
1.6
1.6
Dribbles*
1.5
1.6
1.5
Ball recoveries*
3.6
2.4
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
1.1
1.3
Duels won*
5.3
3.8
3.8
Quite the effort. Gordon’s performances, notching 21 goal contributions across Newcastle’s injury-hit year, led to the honour of the club’s Player of the Year. It was his first full season on Tyneside, and an illustration of his capacity for high-level performances.
And while his high duel rate, creativity and potency in the final third would elevate Ekitike as he makes his maiden way in England, the centre-forward could certainly return the favour, with a style of play that is truly layered and vast.
Indeed, as per FBref, Ekitike ranked among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, and the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
Whichever way you look at it, it’s hard to imagine Liverpool’s transfer window being anything other than a success. Slot proved his worth last season, and now he’s being rewarded with the parts to create a lasting squad of champions.
Better than Isak & Ekitike: Liverpool make £142m "monster" a dream target
Liverpool have two primary candidates to bolster their forward line; Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike.
On what will go down as a red-letter day in Bangladesh’s cricket history, their batters stood tall with important contributions right through as they inflicted a 2-0 clean sweep over Pakistan with a six-wicket win on the fifth afternoon in Rawalpindi.Chasing 185, Zakir Hasan scored 40, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque made steady 30s, and the experienced pair of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan wrapped things up, sparking celebrations in the Bangladesh change room. There was a sense of calmness with which Bangladesh went about achieving their third-highest successful chase in Test cricket.An overseas Test victory, let alone a series win, is a rare event in Bangladesh cricket. This was only their fourth win in 20 overseas Tests in the last seven years and just their third Test series victory overseas.Related
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For Pakistan, it added to their misery, with this loss extending their winless run at home to ten Tests. Since a win against South Africa in early February 2021, they have had four draws and six defeats, which include series defeats to Australia, England and now Bangladesh.Heading into the second session, Bangladesh required 63 runs with eight wickets in hand. Shanto tried a few reverse sweeps and even got a four through backward point but failed to carry on for long. It was the softest of dismissals, with him bunting a straight delivery from Salman Agha to Abdullah Shafique at short leg.Mominul, who was mostly sedate in the first session, got busy after Shanto fell. He cut Agha through point before getting another four off Mir Hamza, albeit off an edge. By then, Pakistan were desperate for wickets and burnt two reviews in two balls for lbw appeals against Mushfiqur; there was an inside edge onto the pad both times.Mominul’s aggression got the better of him when he mistimed Abrar Ahmed straight to mid-off. But Mushfiqur and Shakib made sure there were no more errors. They took their time, rarely played a shot in anger, and inched towards the target. Shakib hit Abrar for a straight six to bring the target under 20 before hitting the winning four off the same bowler through covers. With the win, Bangladesh jumped past England to be fourth on the World Test Championship table.Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto added 57 for the third wicket•Associated Press
In the morning, Bangladesh resumed from 42 for no loss. Shadman Islam began with a crisp square cut to get things going but the Pakistan bowlers dictated the terms for the first 45 minutes. Mohammad Ali should have had Zakir’s wicket when the batter went after a good-length ball outside off and seemingly missed it. Replays showed there was a bottom edge but none of the fielders appealed.Zakir didn’t last long, though. Hamza, who had found the right spot on good length outside off, got a ball to angle in from the over-the-wicket line. It beat Zakir’s outside edge and took the top of off stump.Hamza and Ali bowled a string of dot balls, ensuring no easy runs. When Shanto finally got off the mark off his tenth ball, it was the first runs in 25 deliveries. Hamza then induced a thick outside edge off Shadman’s bat but it flew to the left of Agha at second slip. He made a valiant effort, diving one-handed, but failed to latch on. It would have been a regulation catch for third slip, but that position was left vacant.Shadman failed to make much of the reprieve, falling eight balls later to a loose drive. Khurram Shahzad bowled one full outside off, with the opener driving on the up and straight to a pumped-up Shan Masood.But Shanto and Mominul quashed Pakistan’s hopes of a comeback. The hosts did have their chances, drawing the odd edge but the ball evaded the fielders. Shanto and Mominul knew time wasn’t the issue, and they got the target down slowly.Shanto still took the aggressive route a few times, like uppishly flicking Ali through midwicket and then smashing Shahzad down the ground, but Mominul was content with singles. The only time Mominul showed some aggression was when he slog-swept Abrar through midwicket for four.Masood rung in the changes and brought back Hamza, but Shanto and Mominul managed to survive till lunch. Pakistan did dislodge the duo eventually, but there weren’t enough runs to defend, and they went down in front of a sparse home crowd.
This summer is shaping up to be something really quite special for Arsenal.
Following the underwhelming business conducted by his predecessor last year, Sporting Director Andrea Berta is wasting no time at all in his bid to turn Mikel Arteta’s side from serial runners-up to Premier League champions next season.
The Italian has already clinched the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Christian Norgaard, while Noni Madueke is set for a medical at London Colney this afternoon.
Yet, in perhaps the most exciting development of all, the club now appear to have secured the services of Viktor Gyokeres, and if reports are to be believed, they’re also targeting a winger who he’ll love.
Arsenal target Gyokeres' dream teammate
Gyokeres has long been on Arsenal’s radar, as he was touted for a move to the club for much of last summer, and then again in January.
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However, when the window reopened this summer, it looked like Benjamin Sesko was going to be the Gunners’ new number nine, although once RB Leipzig demanded £85m, attention swiftly turned back to the Swede.
After a week or so of further talks, and a strike from the player himself, The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed that an agreement in principle has been reached with Sporting CP that will see them paid an initial fee of £55m, with £9m of performance-related add-ons.
It could be the signing that will help revolutionise the team’s frontline, and as if that wasn’t enough, the Gunners are now being linked with someone Gyokeres would love to play alongside.
At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, who has revealed that Arsenal are one of the teams interested in Kaoru Mitoma.
Alongside the Gunners, the report claims that Chelsea and Bayern Munich are keen on the Brighton & Hove Albion star, who now has just under two years remaining on his £80k-per-week contract.
A potential price is not mentioned in the report, but according to stories from earlier this summer, the Seagulls could demand a fee of up to £80m.
It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but Mitoma has the ability to make a significant impact at Arsenal, and he could be a dream teammate for Gyokeres.
Why Gyokeres would love Mitoma
So, to assess the sorts of players that Gyokeres would love playing alongside, it’s important to look at his playstyle.
We know the Sporting star is a lean, mean goalscoring machine, but when we take a look at his league heatmap this season, we can see that he is very much a number nine who likes to spend most of his time in the penalty area.
We can see this even more clearly when looking at where he took his shots in the Champions League last season, as 19 of 24 were from inside the penalty area.
Therefore, be it through passing or dribbling, the former Coventry City man is going to love playing with attackers who can get the ball to him in these dangerous areas, and as many will be aware, Mitoma is a real threat with the ball at his feet.
The Japanese international famously wrote a university dissertation on dribbling, and it looks like it paid off, as, according to FBref, he was in the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for carries into the final third last season and the top 10% for progressive carrying distance, per 90.
Non-Penalty Expected Goals per Shot
0.16
Top 7%
Blocks
1.66
Top 7%
Shots on Target %
47.4%
Top 8%
Goals/Shot
0.18
Top 8%
Carries into Final Third
2.84
Top 8%
Progressive Carrying Distance
135.05
Top 10%
Progressive Carries
5.05
Top 12%
However, the Seagulls ace is not just a carrying machine; he’s more than capable of chipping in with goals and assists.
In fact, in 36 league appearances last season, the “insane” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, found the back of the net on ten occasions and provided four assists for good measure.
In other words, the 28-year-old, who “finishes like Thierry Henry,” according to former teammate Christian Burgess, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 2.57 games.
Just imagine what his assist tally could look like playing with a striker who scored 54 goals in 52 games last season.
Moreover, as the Swedish international is such a goal threat and someone who loves to spend time in and around the penalty area, that could allow the Japanese international more space to whip in those Henry-esque curling shots from the left.
Ultimately, while he won’t be cheap, Mitoma is just the sort of winger who could facilitate Gyokeres’ game, while also thriving off of it.
Zubi will love him: Arsenal have agreement to sign £17m star after Gyokeres
Arsenal’s busy summer window now appears in full swing after Martin Zubimendi’s arrival.
Andre Onana was once seen as a huge signing for Manchester United, having the potential to offer an upgrade on David de Gea after the Spaniard was released back in 2023.
The Red Devils forked out a fee in the region of £47.2m to sign him from Inter Milan back in the same summer, with the deal seen as an astute piece of business at the time.
However, nearly two years on from his big-money move to Old Trafford, the Cameroonian has failed to deliver, producing numerous howlers that have cost Ruben Amorim’s side in key moments.
Onana
He’s registered eight errors leading to goals this season, undoubtedly being at fault for conceding Brennan Johnson’s effort, which ultimately saw them suffer defeat in the Europa League final.
It’s a surprise to no one to see other targets being considered during the summer transfer window, with a new shot-stopper desperately needed if the club are to take the next step in the years ahead.
The latest on United’s hunt for a new goalkeeper
Earlier this summer, Burnley ‘keeper James Trafford was seen as a viable option for United, with his tally of 29 clean sheets this season catching the eye – but no deal has yet progressed for the former Manchester City youngster.
Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma was also seen as a potential addition, but their quest for his signature has been foiled after the Italian stated his desire to remain at PSG.
As a result, the Red Devils have had to take their efforts elsewhere, appearing to be heading in the right direction over a move to sign Lille star Lucas Chevalier, according to TEAMtalk.
Their report claims that Amorim’s side has opened talks with the 23-year-old’s agents as they bid to sign a player who kept 11 clean sheets in his 34 Ligue 1 outings throughout 2024/25.
It also states they face competition from fellow English side Aston Villa, with the French outfit demanding a fee in the region of £50m to part ways with the promising talent this window.
Why Cheavlier would be a better signing than Martinez for United
As previously mentioned, United have been working hard to identify a new goalkeeper for Amorim in recent weeks, subsequently turning their attention to Villa’s Emiliano Martínez in recent days.
AstonVilla's EmilianoMartinezreacts
The Argentine has been one of Europe’s most impressive shot-stoppers in recent seasons, claiming the Goalkeeper of the Year award twice in the last three years.
This season has been no different, winning the league’s Save of the Season award, but looks set to depart Unai Emery’s side, with sales needed to avoid a PSR breach.
It’s been reported that they are demanding £40m for the 32-year-old this summer, with the player himself said to be keen on a switch to join the Red Devils.
However, the club should look past Martinez in the coming months and put their focus onto Chevalier, with the Frenchman providing a better option for Amorim’s side.
Lucas Chevalier for Lille.
At only 23, he has the potential to grow into one of Europe’s leading talents in such a position, even outperforming Martinez in numerous key areas this campaign – subsequently highlighting the talent he possesses.
The Lille number one, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by one analyst, has conceded fewer goals and kept more clean sheets in 2024/25 – handing United the quality they’ve been lacking between the sticks.
How Chevalier compares to Martinez in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Chevalier
Martinez
Games played
34
37
Goals conceded
36
45
Clean sheets
11
8
Save percentage
75%
69%
Saves made per 90
2.8
2.7
Pass accuracy
80%
78%
Errors leading to goals
0
1
Stats via FBref
He’s also achieved a better save percentage and made more saves per 90, highlighting why he would be a better and higher-quality addition despite his tender age.
Chevalier has starred with the ball at his feet, completing more passes and registering fewer errors that lead to goals, offering Amorim the option to play out from the back should he want it.
Whilst £50m may appear to be a hefty figure for a young ‘keeper, the Lille star has demonstrated that he’s a competent option that’s only going to get better in the years to come.
Martinez would likely be a solid short-term solution to the current issue, but Chevalier could easily be the club’s number one for the next decade, with the hierarchy needing to prioritise a move for his signature over the Argentine this summer.
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“Me being in the T20 squad would’ve raised more eyebrows. It’s better that way that I’m not there”
Firdose Moonda14-Aug-2024Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s former T20I and current Test and ODI captain, has acknowledged his focus is long-format cricket after he was left out of the team’s experimental T20 side to play West Indies later this month.After last playing a T20I in September 2023, missing out on the T20 World Cup squad and being released by Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20, Bavuma was asked whether he had made a decision about his T20 future. He did not give a definitive answer but seemed to indicate he understood the ship had sailed.”It’s not a surprise that I’m not there, but me being in the T20 squad would’ve raised more eyebrows. It’s better that way that I’m not there. My focus now is on Test cricket and I’m going to try to play as best as I can in the format,” Bavuma said from Guyana, where he will lead South Africa in the second Test against West Indies from tomorrow.Related
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“There’s also 50-over cricket that’s coming in the next few months and the one thing that I can trust is that if I get going in Test and 50-over cricket, everything else will follow from there. It’s not a surprise that I’m not in the T20 squad.”Bavuma’s acceptance of his non-selection for the T20I squad comes after a protracted period of criticism over his strike-rate in the shortest format, particularly at the 2022 T20 World Cup. He captained South Africa at that tournament, where they were eliminated after defeat to Netherlands, and scored 70 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 17.50.He was subsequently replaced by Aiden Markram as T20I leader and dropped from the side but took over the Test team. Bavuma made a brief comeback to T20I cricket last year when he played in three matches against Australia and scored 35 runs in three innings, including two ducks. He played one match for SEC at the SA20 earlier this year and made 33 not out and also played for the Lions in the CSA domestic T20 Challenge, where he scored 171 runs in 15 matches at a strike-rate of 117.93, considered too low for a frontline T20 batter. That may have been what he was referring to when he said that if he was picked it would “raise more eyebrows.”White-ball coach Rob Walter has opted for Reeza Hendricks – who did not play a game at the 2022 T20 World Cup despite scoring four successive fifties in the lead-up – as a regular opener and will pair him with Rassie van der Dussen or Ryan Rickelton at the top of the order against West Indies.In the long-term, if Quinton de Kock does not continue to play T20Is, South Africa could also look at Matthew Breetzke, who is not in the squad for West Indies, as an opening option. All that doesn’t mean Bavuma is not a white-ball player at all. He remains South Africa’s ODI captain, led them to the semi-finals of the last World Cup and is expected to captain them at the upcoming Champions Trophy.