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Arsenal and sporting director Andrea Berta have been working to back Mikel Arteta behind-the-scenes, with the north Londoners intent on strengthening their squad ahead of a vital Premier League campaign.

Benjamin Sesko has now made "unusual" demand in Arsenal transfer talks

The Slovenia international wants something out of the ordinary.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

Berta has many plates spinning as he looks to secure the best possible deals for his new club.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

The Italian is still simultaneously working on deals for both RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres, as has been the case for weeks (BBC), with Arsenal’s final striker decision shaping up to be one of the most intriguing stories of this transfer window.

“Arsenal still deciding between Benjamin Sesko and Gyökeres,” said reliable transfer journalist Ben Jacobs, via X, recently.

“Andrea Berta simultaneously advancing both deals. Gyökeres would be open to Manchester United. There has been no formal rejection, but a deal to date has also never been at an advanced stage, despite suggestions.

“United have not made any formal approach to Sporting. Swedish striker one of several striker options discussed for #MUFC. Gyökeres believes he’ll still be allowed to leave Sporting for €70m. Arsenal have always been one to watch, but it will depend on Berta now because he is also in ongoing talks for Sesko at the same time.”

The Gyokeres situation in particular is getting pretty toxic to say the least.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas publicly denied claims that the 27-year-old would be allowed to leave for £60 million, even if Gyokeres remains privately convinced that’ll happen, with the club chief also stating that he won’t be blackmailed by the striker or his agent.

“I want to make one thing clear: Sporting has common sense and keeps its word,” said Varandas.

“Gyokeres scored 63 goals and 10 assists. Fantastic performance. Certainly one of the best players to have ever stepped onto Portuguese turf. And Sporting will not demand the clause.

“Now blackmail and insults, Sporting will not accept. One thing is certain: Sporting will not accept 60 million plus 10 [£60m].”

Viktor Gyokeres "dreams" of joining Arsenal

As tensions surrounding Gyokeres’ future reach boiling point, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport has at least moved to provide some good news for Arsenal.

Serie A heavyweights Juventus have been expressing an interest in the Sweden international recently, but the Old Lady have been told something crystal clear – Gyokeres “dreams” of a move to Arsenal, and they’re his top priority.

While Corriere reiterates that the north Londoners have seen a low-ball offer rejected already, the newspaper has provided clarity on Gyokeres’ current price tag, with Sporting demanding close to around £70 million to agree a deal.

Juve were actually willing to surpass Arsenal’s opening offer, but after receiving Gyokeres’ “refusal”, they’re now moving on to other targets like free agent Jonathan David.

Berta knows the price at which Sporting will begin to loosen their hold on the star striker, with the 53-year-old now set to carry on pondering his imperative decision before advancing further in talks – Sesko or Gyokeres.

“I know Gyokeres very well personally, I was a bit of a mentor for him when he played for Brommapojkarna,” former Arsenal midfielder Anders Limpar told FotbollDirekt.

“He’s a fantastically hardworking forward who scores a lot of goals. If we at Arsenal [were to] buy Gyokeres, then he will definitely call me. But then to see Gyokeres at Arsenal, that would be crazy.

“His work rate, he runs like a madman. When it doesn’t work out for Viktor, he works his way into the game with uncomfortable runs.”

Fulham are now ready to make a move for an “incredible” manager, should Marco Silva decide to leave this summer, according to a report.

Silva's future at Craven Cottage still in doubt

Having been at Craven Cottage since 2021, Silva is now among the longest-serving Premier League managers, behind only Pep Guardiola, Thomas Frank and Mikel Arteta, but there have been suggestions his time in west London could now be coming to an end.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham Hotspur persist with Ange Postecoglou after their Europa League triumph, but should they part ways with the Australian, the Cottagers boss could be among the main candidates to be brought in as a replacement.

In the same report, it is revealed the 47-year-old coach could also be tempted by a move to Saudi Arabia this summer, with several clubs ready to offer him mega money to leave the Premier League despite his insistence this weekend that he will stay put.

Agent says Fulham have submitted "very important" bid for 24 y/o goalkeeper

Could the Cottagers be bolstering a key area of the pitch?

By
Henry Jackson

May 12, 2025

As such, Fulham have now started to identify potential replacements for the Portuguese manager just in case, and a report from The Sun states they are now ready to make a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira.

Indeed, should Silva decide to move on, the Cottagers will look to raid their Premier League rivals for Pereira, who enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in England, leading the Old Gold to safety after replacing Gary O’Neil in the dugout.

The Portuguese coach is the number one choice to replace his compatriot, having been identified as an ideal fit, and there is a feeling the west Londoners could offer him a more lucrative financial package and a better long-term plan than he currently has at Molineux.

Pereira could be "incredible" Silva heir

The Wolves boss had a tough job on his hands after replacing O’Neil, but Wolves ultimately managed to avoid relegation with ease, at one point winning six matches on the spin from March until the end of April.

In light of the job the 56-year-old has done at Molineux, he has also received high praise from Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer, who said: “He really has done an incredible job, the whole atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch,”

“He’s given everyone belief and confidence, made them more solid at the back. All over the park, they’re better, so he’s done a great job.”

The feel-good factor off the pitch is perhaps best showcased by the fact the former FC Porto boss has even been known to go to the pub for a pint with Wolves fans after matches.

Having also been nominated for the Premier League Manager of the Season award, there are plenty of signs that Pereira could be a great replacement for Silva, but Fulham will ultimately be hoping their manager stays, having stabilised them as a top-flight club.

A significant update has now emerged over the future of an “amazing” Liverpool player, courtesy of Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.

Liverpool fringe players struggle at Brighton

The Reds were beaten 3-2 away to Brighton on Monday evening, meaning the new Premier League champions have now gone three matches without a victory since officially winning the title last month.

It was a chance for fringe players to chance, as Arne Slot shuffled his starting lineup, but in truth, few did their future chances much good, including Harvey Elliott, who seemed to hint at a possible summer exit after the game, saying:

“It’s been hard with how much I’ve played. I’ve tried as hard as I could and whatever happens, happens. It’s about what’s best for my career. It’s about reflecting and seeing what I can do. I’m here at the moment and I’m focusing on the final game.”

A big summer transfer window is expected at Liverpool, with Jeremie Frimpong on the verge of signing from Bayer Leverkusen, and Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez also strongly linked with a move, but there will also likely be lots of outgoings. Now, a new rumour has emerged regarding the future of another Reds player alongside Elliott.

"Amazing" Liverpool defender linked with exit

Taking to X on Tuesday morning, the reliable Plettenberg claimed that there is “interest” in Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah from a host of clubs, and there is a chance of a potential summer exit.

Selling Quansah this summer would be a risk by Liverpool, considering he is a young player with a high ceiling, with Alexis Mac Allister showing his appreciation for him last year, saying:

“He was amazing. The job he did with Virg [Virgil van Dijk] is so important for the team because it gives us that calmness that we need to play football. “Even on the ball he was amazing. Very happy and very glad for him.”

Jarell Quansah’s 2024/25 Premier League stats

Total

Appearances

13

Starts

4

Minutes played

489

Clearances per game

2.1

Tackles per game

0.9

Pass completion rate

91.5%

Goals

0

Assists

0

That said, Liverpool have to be ruthless this summer, and if Slot believes an upgrade on the Englishman can come in and bolster his squad, accepting an offer may be the right decision.

Quansah leaving would be a transfer twist, however, considering a recent report in 2025 claimed that the Reds have no plans to sell the £50m-rated defender, continuing to see him as an important part of the club’s future.

If the 22-year-old, who started vs Brighton, is happy to stay as a possible squad player, keeping him on still makes the most sense, with the England international still having plenty of time to mature into a future regular, but sporting director Richard Hughes has a big decision to make this summer.

While they look set to finish second in the Premier League for the third season on the bounce, Arsenal can at least take solace in the fact that they’ve got one of the very best wingers in the competition in Bukayo Saka.

Despite missing almost four months of football following his hamstring injury against Crystal Palace in December, the Hale End superstar has still racked up a sensational tally of six goals and 11 assists in 21 league games this term and a total of 25 goal involvements in 31 games across all competitions.

It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to describe the Englishman as the club’s best player, and when it comes to the league overall, some might place just Mohamed Salah ahead of him when it comes to wingers, as, after all, the Egyptian King has amassed a haul of 56 goal involvements in 48 games this year.

Appearances

31

48

Minutes

2162′

4141′

Goals

11

33

Assists

14

23

Goal Involvements per Match

0.71

1.16

Minutes per Goal Involvement

86.48′

73.94′

So, fans should be incredibly excited about recent reports that have linked the club with an international star who’s won comparisons to both Saka and Salah this season.

Arsenal's plan to sign a new winger

With Arsenal scoring 17 goals fewer than Liverpool so far in the league this year, it’s no secret that the area of the team most in need of improving is the attack, so links to players such as Nico Williams have hardly been surprising.

The Spanish international has a release clause worth around £50m in his current contract with Athletic Bilbao, and considering he’s still just 22 years old and has already racked up a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in just 43 appearances this year, that could prove to be good value.

A more experienced and potentially even more exciting attacker the Gunners are reportedly keen to sign this summer is Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swedish international could join the North Londoners for around £69m, which may well be a bargain price, as in just 48 appearances this term, he has scored 52 goals and provided 12 assists.

However, given his playstyle and position, he’s understandably not won comparisons to Saka or Salah, unlike Ademola Lookman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides incredibly keen on the Nigerian superstar.

In fact, alongside the Gunners, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United plan to talk with the player’s representatives, while Barcelona and Juventus have already made contact.

Unfortunately, the incredible level of competition is not the only potential barrier Arsenal will have to contend with, as Atalanta reportedly value their star at up to €65m, which is about £55m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Lookman has had a “monster year” in the words of broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2024, it’s one that would be worth fighting for.

How Lookman compares to Saka & Salah

Before we look at some of the other reasons Arsenal may want to sign Lookman, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Saka and Salah and where they come from.

In this case, both comparisons stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Englishman is the second most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Nigerian, and the Egyptian comes in as the sixth most similar.

Shots

3.27

3.34

3.32

Shots on Target

1.33

1.18

1.40

Goals per Shot on Target

0.40

0.26

0.40

Non-Penalty xG per Shot

0.12

0.09

0.15

Passing Accuracy

72.8%

75.1%

71.3%

Live Passes

33.6

34.0

33.1

Carries

33.7

33

31.2

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank, including but not limited to shots and shots on target, goals per shot on target, carries, passing accuracy, live passes and more, all per 90.

However, it’s not just his statistical similarities to the two Premier League stars that make the former Everton ace such an appealing target, as on top of his positional versatility, he’s an output machine.

For example, in just 37 appearances this season, totalling 2658 minutes, the “super” attacker, as dubbed by manager Gian Piero Gasperini, has scored 18 goals and provided seven assists.

That means he is currently averaging a goal involvement every 1.48 games or every 106.32 minutes, which is the sort of output that could help the North Londoners close the gap on Liverpool next year.

Ultimately, while it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Arsenal should do all they can to sign Lookman, as he could be a real difference-maker at the Emirates.

A better signing than Gyokeres: Arsenal keen on landing the "new Haaland"

Arsenal are on the hunt to bolster their forward line this summer.

5 ByMatt Dawson Apr 27, 2025

Aston Villa are now in a three-way race to sign an “incredible” midfielder who is ready to leave his current club this summer, according to a report.

Villa stepping up midfielder pursuit

As we approach the summer transfer window, Villa seem to be particularly keen on adding a midfielder to their ranks, having submitted an offer for Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan last week, and Fabrizio Romano has recently dropped a further update.

A deal for Nypan appears to be edging closer, but given that the Norwegian is just 18-years-old, Unai Emery may be keen on bringing in a central midfielder with a little more experience at the top level, and contact has been made over FC Barcelona’s Marc Casado.

Back in October, it was revealed that Emery had personally requested the signing of Athletic Club’s Oihan Sancet, with the manager being left “captivated” by the midfielder’s performances, which indicates the Spaniard is a big fan.

Now, there has been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Sancet, with a report from Spain revealing they are now in a three-way race for the 24-year-old, alongside Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

The Villans are said to be closely monitoring the Spanish midfielder’s development, and their presence in the Champions League should give them a good chance of winning the race for his signature.

The Pamplona-born maestro is ready to leave Athletic Club this summer, but a deal will not be cheap, with the La Liga side set to hold out for his release clause of €80m (£69m).

Aston Villa ready to spend £75m to sign star who has scored at Villa Park

He’s been in stellar form this season.

1

By
Barney Lane

Apr 14, 2025

"Incredible" Sancet could be fantastic signing for Villa

The attacking midfielder has previously been lauded as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he has been one of his side’s top performers in La Liga this season, having averaged a 6.97 match rating.

The Spain international has been particularly impressive in front of goal, having scored 16 goals in all competitions, including 15 in 23 La Liga games, which is a phenomenal record for a midfielder.

As a result, the Athletic star ranks in the top 2% for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, while also ranking very highly on some other key metrics for midfielders.

Statistic	Average per 90
Non-penalty goals	0.64 (98th percentile)
Pass completion %	82.3% (86th percentile)
Progressive passes	5.78 (86th percentile)

Sancet could be a fantastic signing for Aston Villa this summer, and they should be well-placed to compete for his signature, should they manage to qualify for the Champions League once again.

Tottenham Hotspur have some major rebuilding to do if they’re to become genuine Premier League title contenders, with two big names now tipped to leave as part of the process.

Tottenham seal Europa League semi-final place after Thursday win

After a hard-fought victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, where Ange Postecoglou’s side were forced to dig deep and display truly heroic, last-gasp defending over a dogged showing, Spurs have now booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

Tottenham: Lange personally holds talks over signing £50m player for Spurs

The technical director has a plan.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

Dominic Solanke’s penalty was enough to hand the Lilywhites a spot in the next round, where they will play fairy tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, after the Norwegian minnows knocked out Lazio on penalties.

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Tottenham showcased true professionalism to get the job done on a tough, hostile night in Germany, with Postecoglou’s side keeping their nerve on away soil and earning serious praise from their manager.

“Yeah, I’m delighted with many things, super proud of the lads,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s win at Eintracht.

“Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined, and we needed to score. We had to show the quality we had as well.

“To a man, I just thought they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance, and it means we’re through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg, but we earned the right to be in the semi.”

Playmaker James Maddison put his body on the line to win Spurs the penalty which ultimately proved decisive, but according to talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney, the England international is one of four players who could be sacrificed in the transfer market by chairman Daniel Levy.

Troy Deeney says Tottenham could let go of Son Heung-min and James Maddison

As well as Maddison, Deeney believes fellow big-name Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham soon.

The attacking stars, on a combined £260,000-per-week at N17, have both played mainstay roles under Postecoglou – but the pundit believes Spurs’ duo may well depart alongside the likes of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.

“For me, he’s done a good job blooding the younger players and giving them the confidence to go and score a lot,” said Deeney on talkSPORT this week.

“Brennan Johnson, what is he on, about 16 goals now? I think they’re in a transition period, I think you could see the likes of Son [Heung-min] move on. Potentially [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, Richarlison, these guys will start moving on.

“And then obviously they have a lot of young players like Mikey Moore, but I still think they’re a little bit like Chelsea. They need one, maybe two, older pros just to be like, ‘We don’t do that here, this is how you win things.’

“And that’s the bit I think that they’re missing.”

Liverpool have lost themselves over the past several weeks, crashing out of the Champions League and then losing the Carabao Cup final before the March international break.

Having returned from the spring pause to claim a tetchy but lifting win in the Merseyside derby, fans felt that Arne Slot’s side had replanted their feet ahead of the business months of the season, using the three points gained as a springboard.

However, errors were rife on Sunday as Liverpool fell to defeat at Craven Cottage and Slot was condemned to his first Premier League defeat on the road.

Still, it’s not all bad, the Reds are still 11 points clear at the top of the division, set to end four years of Manchester City dominance. All that without having dipped into the transfer market for nearly two years.

Indeed, the £12.5m signing of Federico Chiesa remains the only deal struck since Ryan Gravenberch arrived in 2023. Somehow, Slot, in all his tactical genius, has taken Liverpool to the next level, despite the frontline leaving something to be desired at times.

Liverpool's frontline in 24/25

Liverpool ended the 2024 summer transfer window having failed to sign their top target in Martin Zubimendi and adding only injury-prone Chiesa to an already well-stocked frontline.

The squad is rather fantastic, but Slot deserves all the plaudits for making the requisite, title-clinching adjustments.

The architect of all attacking success would be Mohamed Salah, of course. The 32-year-old has posted 32 goals and 22 assists across all competitions and is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in both Liverpool and English football’s history.

Salah has been nothing short of breathtaking this season, but there’s no denying he’s plateaued in recent fixtures. However, frankly, this is an annual thing, the dreaded spring drop-off, and he deserves a place in the team next season as Liverpool go again.

Still, Liverpool have been brilliant in attack, top of the Premier League and having scored the most goals (72) too. They’ve all chipped in, with the likes of Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo both going from strength

Streamlined into a more focused left-flanking role, Gakpo has matched his haul of 16 goals and six assists from last season having played just under 800 minutes fewer, equating to nearly nine full matches.

However, it’s not all perfect. Darwin Nunez is set to be sold this summer, while Diogo Jota looks a shadow of his former self. Such departures would in turn create one or two exciting vacancies.

Liverpool need something new, and sporting director Richard Hughes may well have the perfect Premier League star in mind.

PL star wants to sign for Liverpool

Last week, TEAMtalk claimed that Liverpool have made contact with Matheus Cunha’s representatives ahead of a potential summer move. The Wolverhampton Wanderers forward’s £62.5m release clause goes live after the end of the 2024/25 season and he wants a move away.

Excitingly, Football Insider have recently reported that the Brazil international is hoping to sign for Liverpool. All FSG need to do is match that release clause.

However, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest are also keen and Liverpool need to ensure this one doesn’t slip away from them, should their interest truly be concrete.

What Matheus Cunha would bring to Liverpool

Cunha has been at Wolves for over two years, joining in January 2023 on an initial loan from Atletico Madrid before signing permanently for an approximate £35m fee.

He’s long been highly regarded in England, but the Brazilian’s performances for Wolves this term have really underlined the level of his ability, notching 15 goals and four assists across 29 matches.

Though he shares similar positional virtues to the likes of Diaz and Gakpo, Cunha’s dynamism would be sure to see him marry right into Slot’s complex and multi-layered vision.

Attacking midfield

21

12

4

Centre-forward

4

1

0

Left winger

2

2

0

Right winger

1

0

0

Quite the versatile approach, eh. What’s more, Cunha is proving to be a prolific player across those variegated roles, his technical flair and dogged attitude lending itself to numerous areas of attack.

He’s also playing for Wolves. Good team, resilient and balanced under the wing of Vitor Pereira. However, the Old Gold hardly boast Liverpool’s degree of offensive ability, and one can only imagine the success that Cunha could find in Slot’s system.

Especially when you consider that he’s sort of outstripping Liverpool’s left-sided forwards, Gakpo and Diaz, this term.

Matches (starts)

26 (24)

28 (17)

30 (23)

Goals

13

8

10

Assists

4

3

5

Shots (on target)*

3.3 (1.3)

1.6 (0.6)

1.9 (0.8)

Big chances missed

2

5

8

Pass completion

78%

84%

86%

Key passes*

1.7

1.1

1.6

Dribbles*

1.9

1.0

1.5

Ball recoveries*

4.2

2.1

3.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.2

1.1

Duels won*

5.7

3.0

3.7

There’s a lot to unpack in that table, but it’s curious to note at a glance that Cunha has outscored both of Liverpool’s men while carrying the ball forward more frequently, getting stuck in with more challenges too.

All told, he’s a “versatile pressing machine” – in the words of reporter Kaustubh Pandey – who has refined his potency in the final third at an outfit not exactly known for its attacking output right now.

Indeed, Wolves have created 51 big chances in the Premier League this year, well behind Slot’s Liverpool (89 big chances created). In fact, no team has created more than the table-toppers.

But it doesn’t matter when Cunha is so extraordinarily clinical. He’s missed only two big chances in the league this year. Two. That’s having scored 13 goals. You can refer back to the table to see how that compares to Liverpool’s stars, but it’s clear to see that the deadliest of the bunch dwells not at Anfield but in Black Country.

He’s also been hailed for his “perfect” deliveries by The Athletic’s Steve Madeley. Another string to the bow.

He wouldn’t come cheap, but Cunha could fit snugly into an interchangeable Anfield frontline and provide Liverpool with that bit of incisiveness in front of goal to ease Salah’s responsibilities and ensure that Slot’s side fire on all cylinders into the later stages of the season.

Not just Robertson: FSG must now sell "world-class" Liverpool star

Liverpool’s 26-game unbeaten run in the Premier League was ended on an error-strewn afternoon at Craven Cottage.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 7, 2025

The Bangladesh bowlers have staged recoveries, picked up wickets, and won them games. But where are the batters?

Mohammad Isam17-Jun-20241:28

Tamim: ‘Bangladesh batters need to apply themselves better’

Once again, in the T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh’s bowlers stepped up when their batters went missing. They defended the lowest total in men’s T20 World Cup history by bowling out Nepal for 85 in Kingstown. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was the wrecker-in-chief with his astounding figures of 4-2-7-4, but it was overall a strong collective effort from the entire bowling unit.Tanzim’s whippy action, pace and hard lengths put Nepal on the back foot in the powerplay when he took four of the first five wickets. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto took a risk in giving Tanzim a fourth consecutive over, but Bangladesh needed wickets at every stage of defending 106 runs. Tanzim struck on the very last ball of his fourth over by dismissing Sundeep Jora and vindicated Shanto’s decision. He bowled the most dot balls by a bowler in a men’s T20 World Cup game.Shanto could finish Tanzim early knowing that he had five other bowlers to rely on. Mustafizur Rahman was at his miserly best once again, especially in the death overs, finishing with 3 for 7. His wicket maiden in the 19th over was the first by any bowler at that stage of a chase at a T20 World Cup game.Related

• Tanzim's four, Mustafizur's three take Bangladesh into Super Eight

• Stats – Tanzim's dot-ball masterclass and the lowest total successfully defended at T20 World Cup

Adding Taskin Ahmed’s one wicket, the fast bowling trio finished with figures of 8 for 43 from their 12 overs. They are, till date, the second-best fast bowling attack in the tournament in terms of wickets taken, and the third-best when it comes to economy rate.The trio has picked up 23 wickets in four games, equaling the number of wickets they took in the 2016 and 2021 editions while playing at least seven matches. Bangladesh’s bowling has followed a strict formula. Shanto has used 12 overs from the fast bowlers generally, leaving Rishad Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah to share the other eight overs. This plan has kept them alive in this tournament right from the start.They engineered a recovery against Sri Lanka, who raced away to 100 for 3 in 14 overs, to restrict them to 124 in Dallas. They conceded runs at 4.58 against South Africa, exploiting New York’s conditions properly. They supported Rishad very well against Netherlands, particularly when Netherlands put them under pressure at one stage of their 160 chase.ESPNcricinfo LtdShanto said that even though they were bowled out for 106 against Nepal in their last league game, they knew that they had enough to put up a fight.”When we got together at the innings break, we collectively believed that we could defend this total,” Shanto said. “We knew winning was possible. The bowlers made our job easy. Tanzim gave us a good start in the powerplay. He bowled four wonderful overs on the trot. Mustafiz bowled a maiden in the 19th over. It was a very good performance. I also want to credit the fielders. They saved some important boundaries. Rishad took two catches at point. We bowled and fielded well overall.”Shanto further said that when they saw Nepal fast bowler Sompal Kami bowling so well in the Bangladesh powerplay, they got the idea that their quick bowlers too could exploit the conditions.”Their opening bowler (Kami) was seaming the ball, so that was an important bit of information for us,” Shanto said. “Our pacers are using the new ball quite well in the last two years. They kept my belief intact in this game. There was a lot of seam movement with the new ball. We saw a lot of spin in the last couple of matches. The pitch was very hard for the batters.”Despite being 26 for 5, Nepal fought back through a 52-run sixth-wicket stand between Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee. Shanto said that such was the Bangladesh score that they had little option but to try to bowl out Nepal. That’s why, he said, he finished Tanzim early, and still had a few overs of fast bowling left at the death.”I think those two batters (Airee and Malla) batted beautifully,” Shanto said. “We tried to take some more wickets. They put on some runs on the board. We still believed we could come back, and that’s what the bowlers did later on.”We didn’t score a lot of runs so I had to take a chance. Otherwise we wouldn’t have won this game. I expected my best bowlers to get me wickets while also bowling dot balls. Everything went to plan as the bowlers combined well. It was difficult but they are always ready to take that challenge.”He, however, conceded that the batters need to step up as Bangladesh head into the Super Eight stage, grouped with India, Australia and Afghanistan. Bangladesh’s top seven batters have the lowest collective batting average (16.96) among the teams that have qualified to the Super Eight.”It is not possible for the bowlers to win us games every day, but they have been doing it,” Shanto said. “I hope that they continue in this way. But the batters have the responsibility too. It is not happening for them. Everyone is trying to find out why. It is certainly not acceptable. It was possibly a 140-150 wicket, but we couldn’t get those runs. It is certainly worrying us.”It is clear that it is their bowlers who have bailed out Bangladesh in every game this tournament. Tanzim now has nine wickets, while Taskin, Mustafizur and Rishad have seven each. It is a Herculean effort if you consider that fast bowling and legspin are the most hated aspects of Bangladesh cricket in the last decade. There’s a lesson somewhere for the batters to learn from these bowlers about resilience and dedication.

This may have been the innings to win over the remaining doubters

Vithushan Ehantharajah24-Jun-20225:32

#PoliteEnquiries: Have England finally solved Bairstow?

A well-known quirk of the press conference is that when the England men’s Test side has a bad day, a coach is sent out to take the heat. And for all the eye-rolls at the sheer number of support staff employed by the ECB, well before the red- and white-ball schedules clashed, almost all of them have had screen-time over the last couple of years.Which coach is the easy bit. For example, a tough day in the field means the bowling coach steps up, hence why Jon Lewis was brought out more times in Australia than sun-cream. Thus at 3:02pm on Friday, as England found themselves 55 for six at the end of the 12th over, with New Zealand’s first-innings 329 looking twice as much, thoughts turned to who might be stepping into the “what went wrong today?” chair, given that Marcus Trescothick, the batting coach, is at home in Somerset dealing with Covid-19.By stumps, with England 264 for six, just 65 behind but visibly under New Zealand’s skin as Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton wrestled the initiative back in a quite spectacular 37.1-over partnership, perhaps Marilyn Monroe could have subbed in for Tres. Because the sentiment from the home dressing room was clear: if you can’t handle this England team at 55 for six, then you sure as hell don’t deserve them at 264 for six.Related

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To be honest, who among us could handle the manner in which they lost those first six wickets? The first three, while understandable given the excellence of Trent Boult, reopened old wounds of top-order pain in the face of high-quality bowling. Joe Root’s nibbly edge through to Tom Blundell off Tim Southee for just five was a reminder that even the most reliable can let you down. Ben Stokes’ charge-and-plink off Neil Wagner’s second ball, into the hands of Kane Williamson at a withdrawn mid-off was confirmation that every chaotic fling ends in pain, no matter if it lasts a week or just 13 balls.When Ben Foakes’ head fell to the off side to allow Wagner to ping him on the pads, it was only natural to doubt. Even after the previous two Tests, and especially after the last one in Nottingham, doubt is your insurance: as much for your front, to be able to say you knew it might have been a false dawn, as for your sanity. Because, really, how much tradition, conditioned behaviour and professional fear can be contorted in that time? Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it certainly wasn’t finished after three weeks. Then again, Bairstow wasn’t around 2,700 years ago.Jonny Bairstow walks off to applause on 130 not out•AFP/Getty ImagesThe most important aspect of what Brendon McCullum and Stokes are doing with this Test side is that it doesn’t matter if we, the viewer, believe. It’s a bit like WWE wrestling in that way: whether you think it’s real or fake, those out in the middle have to buy into it completely. With back-to-back bombastic centuries, Bairstow has surged into the ring as England’s biggest believer. This one, No.10 of his career, might even be better than the 136 that won the second Test.”Fancy doing another Trent Bridge?” Bairstow joked with Stokes when they arrived together at 21 for four. He kept up his side of the deal, reaching that century in just 95 deliveries with clean strikes that, come to think of it, could not have been more different to what he unfurled in that final session in Nottingham. There were no sixes (yet anyway), yet most of his 21 fours still elicited the same hooting and hollering.The real malice came after he had passed fifty for the 32nd time. Wagner opted to switch from the full length he started with for the bumper routine he has toured the world over. With men out on the leg side, Bairstow bunted the “change-up” fuller delivery back over the left-armer’s head for four to move to 77.By then Overton had grown into the sidekick role that Stokes had played at Trent Bridge, cracking a pull shot off a Wagner bumper in front of square for four to move him to a maiden half-century. Then came a six into the Western Terrace, followed by a drive down the ground, then a slap through cover: 14 runs taken off Wagner’s ninth over, and off he sidled with much to rue. Wagner should have pushed for a review for an early leg-before shout against Overton that would have reduced England to 63 for seven. He also missed a tricky caught-and-bowled that would have sent Bairstow packing on 27. And compounding it all was the fact his famed short-ball trick was not only failing, but being used against him.Jamie Overton is congratulated by Jonny Bairstow after reaching fifty in his debut Test•AFP via Getty ImagesWho knows how this period might have gone if Wagner, now aged 36, had not come into this Test cold? Either way, he found himself in the eye of an 11-over storm, beginning after a maiden in the 26th over, in which 89 runs were scored. The riot continued on, and reached fever pitch when a crisp on-drive took Bairstow to three figures.Of his four hundreds in 2022, this had the best celebration yet. Not one of “told you so”, or adrenalin-junkie rage, but serene satisfaction. An innings of such personality is nothing new, as shown by the fact his name features in England’s record sixth- and seventh-wicket partnerships: the latter from Friday in Leeds, the former way back in 2016 when he and Stokes went wild in Cape Town. There is still a deficit of 65 to be worked at, and three more days for plenty of twists and turns ahead of the conclusion of this series. But day two of this final showdown felt like a first step towards getting the people on-side. Bairstow alluded to as much in his press conference “Our job is to inspire the next generation, our job is to make people want to watch cricket, our job is to put bums on seats here and I think people might have wanted to watch the brand of cricket we are playing.”Monroe, this time, was kept back. But her words in a previous life come to mind: imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring. It feels particularly relevant to the Test side. At a different time, it might have been relevant to Bairstow.But having spent so long trying to fit into this format by curbing enthusiasm, readjusting footwork and attuning his hands, all while losing his individuality, he’s never been more himself. And in an imperfect team striving to not be boring, he is at his most exciting while being its perfect fit.

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Com o alívio de escapar do rebaixamento no Campeonato Brasileiro, o Internacional corre contra o tempo para contratar um técnico para a próxima temporada. Como as competições começam já em janeiro, dias 10 a 11, no Campeonato Gaúcho, e 28, no Brasileirão, quanto antes o nome for anunciado, melhor para a montagem da equipe. O Lance! conta aqui o que sabe sobre a situação de Odair Hellmann, um dos preferidos de Alessandro Barcellos.

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➡️Tudo sobre o Colorado agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Internacional

Papito, como é carinhosamente chamado pela torcida, tem uma vantagem sobre os demais nomes, como Mozart, campeão da Série B como o Coritiba, e Martín Palermo, do Fortaleza. Como já trabalhou no Beira-Rio, atual treinado do Athlético-PR conhece o clube na intimidade. Além disso, é colorado. “Até demais”, como comentou uma fonte.

A situação de Odair Hellmann

Odair levou o Furacão de uma campanha irregular ao vice da Segunda Divisão brasileira. Tem contrato com o time paranaense até maio de 2026. As negociações de renovação estão em compasso de espera. Por dois motivos.

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O primeiro, é que o profissional está e viagem de família pela Europa. Já teria passado por Espanha e Inglaterra. Retorna antes do final do ano, quando as conversas devem ser reiniciadas. O outro motivo é que Papito quer ampliar o vínculo até dezembro de 2027. O clube, somente até dezembro de 2026.

Pelo que apurou o Lance!, o salário de Odair na Arena da Baixada seria em torno de R$ 400 mil. Esse valor, não incluiria a comissão, formada por Fábio Moreno, Anderson Nicolau e Guilherme Vaz. O valor de rescisão é baseado nesse valor. O que poderia impedir um retorno de Odair é a não permanência de Andrés D’Alessandro.

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