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Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood said Babar Azam’s “break” from the Test squad will end up benefitting rather than harming him. Babar was omitted from the Pakistan squad for the last two Tests against England, which Pakistan won to claim the series 2-1, after a prolonged lean patch.”I think he’s one of the best batsmen in the world. I’m nobody to [say he doesn’t have] a future,” Masood told the radio programme. “He has every quality to be one of the greatest batsmen in Test cricket. He’s always there or thereabouts in the rankings. Sometimes, people need a break.”Pakistan have been swift to indicate Babar has not entered a period of international wilderness, calling him up for Pakistan’s twin white-ball series against Australia. It starts with a three-match ODI series – Pakistan’s first since their disappointing World Cup campaign that saw Babar reluctantly quit as captain. Pakistan have gone so long without playing a 50-over international that in the time since, Babar was reappointed white-ball leader and quit once more, all without having led the side in the format.Related

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But, in the clearest signal yet that Babar’s absence from Pakistan’s Test side will be temporary, Masood said he expected him to “come back a stronger player”. Babar has not scored a half-century in Test cricket in 18 innings stretching back to late 2022, Pakistan’s next Test series is in South Africa, an opposition he has had some happy Test memories against. South Africa were Pakistan’s first opposition when Babar became Test captain as he led his side to a 2-0 series victory. In 2018, his assault on Dale Steyn in a blistering counterattacking innings at SuperSport Park was widely seen as Babar’s Test coming-of-age.”I think this break will do him a great deal of benefit and he’ll come back a stronger player,” Masood said. “There’s no harm in being pulled out at times and having a breather. He’s played a lot of cricket and gone through a lot, and he’ll always be one of the main batsmen to play for Pakistan.”Masood was less willing to be drawn in on the specifics of what his role entails. After the PCB appointed a new selection committee following a chastening innings defeat in the first Test against England, the captain – as well as the head coach Jason Gillespie – were removed from the selection panel. Gillespie called himself a “matchday strategist” in the press conference that followed, and said it “wasn’t what I’d originally signed up for”. The change also applied to white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, who resigned earlier this week.Masood said he had a good relationship with the incoming selectors, insisting he wanted to focus on the team instead of focusing on where individual credit should be apportioned. “People in Pakistan are quick to give success to individuals,” he said. “To make one person a hero. I think it’s always going to be a collective thing. I’d rather pass credit onto everyone else; it was a collective decision. When we sat down together in our first meeting, we were on the same page. We said ‘we need to take 20 wickets, how do we take 20 wickets?'”We thought playing on a used pitch, playing three spinners – that, we thought, would benefit us greatly. I’ve worked with three different setups in my tenure so far. My first series in Australia was different, the Bangladesh series was different, and then we’ve had this group of people that were involved in selection and leadership. I’ve been on the same page with them so far. At the end of the day, it’s about Pakistan cricket, and we’re very fortunate that the entire collective came together.”There were less consequential, if more combustible, issues at hand, too. Moments after the Pakistan captain struck the winning six, he sat down for an interview with the host broadcaster, which involved a few awkward exchanges with commentator Ramiz Raja, with Raja querying Masood clumsily about how he had led the side to six consecutive defeats. A trimmed version of the exchange went viral, with much criticism for Raja, who later posted a video clarifying the intent behind his questions.”There are no hard feelings from my side,” Masood laughed. “I’ve always been an open book in front of the media and tried to conduct myself in the best possible way. People have every right to ask questions however they want. I want to give the best account of myself and for my character to be reflected the way I am. I’m good at taking constructive criticism and I’m also good at filtering stuff out.”

New Zealand captain believes the batting collapse on the third morning was the definitive portion of the match

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Sep-2024New Zealand tend not to do especially well in Galle. Of their five Test defeats from as many games at the ground, one has been by an innings, another by ten wickets, and one more by 202 runs. Their latest Test at the venue, which ended in a 63-run defeat to Sri Lanka on Monday, when they went into the fifth morning with an outside shot of victory – 68 more runs to win, with two wickets remaining – represents their closest result here.But two players, in particular, stuck out. In his first outing in steaming conditions, and on a dry deck, seamer Will O’Rourke was frequently menacing – often touching 140kph – while sending down short deliveries on a pitch not especially conducive to short bowling. Vitally, for a bowler in his third Test, there were also no hugely loose spells. His takings were 8 for 104. Six of those dismissals were of top- or middle-order batters. Captain Tim Southee was suitably impressed by the 23-year-old.”Will’s had a very short Test career so far, and he’s certainly announced himself,” Southee said after the match. “We saw in New Zealand how dangerous he can be. He’s got the skills to have a very good Test career. For him to come to his first Test in the subcontinent and walk away with a very impressive eight wickets for the match is nothing short of special. He’s got a great head on his shoulders, and he’s a big guy. So there’s a lot to like about Will O’Rourke.”Related

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On the batting front, 24-year-old Rachin Ravindra produced his second-highest Test score – a characterful 92 on a treacherous fourth-innings pitch – as New Zealand pursued a tall 275. Ravindra is not quite so new to internationals, of course, having lit up last year’s ODI World Cup in India. But he remains a batter still finding his feet at the top level, and the clear-headed approach he took on day four – pouncing almost unnerringly on errors of length, while endeavouring to keep the score ticking – was especially impressive in his third Test in Asia.”Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase,” Southee said. “We knew it was [a] tough ask, and that it was going to take something special, with the wicket taking a lot of turn in these last couple of days. It was a great knock in those conditions.”It’s not easy to bat – the ball was spinning, and doing all sorts [of things]. For a young guy without a lot of experience in this part of the world to go out and get 90-odd was great signs for him as well. He’s another one that’s an exceptional talent, and he’s had a little taste of international cricket as well, and done exceptionally well. He’s a great young kid with a good head on his shoulders.”Tim Southee called Rachin Ravindra an “exceptional talent” after the Galle Test•APFor Southee, it was New Zealand’s batting collapse on the third morning that was the definitive portion of the match. They had been 255 for 4 in their first innings overnight, only 50 runs adrift of Sri Lanka’s total. But they then lost six wickets for 71 runs, as the middle and lower orders succumbed to finger spinners Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis. In the end, their lead was only 35, when it had threatened to be much more.”I guess the position where we got ourselves in, in the first innings, was good. But the last four or five fell for not many, and there was an opportunity to get a bigger first-innings lead,” he said. “We knew that that second new ball was going to be tough given the nature of the wicket and the quality of the Sri Lankan spin bowlers.”If you look at those moments, if we were able to press on and get more of a lead, things could have been different. It was still a good Test match. There’s plenty of good things we can take into the next couple of days.”

حذر جنارو جاتوزو مدرب منتخب إيطاليا من أن الكفاءة وحدها لا تكفي بعد الفوز الساحق على إستونيا بخماسية نظيفة في بيرجامو في إطار تصفيات اوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وأكد جاتوزو ضرورة استعادة الروح القتالية التي أتقنها المنتخب الإيطالي على مر السنوات، وقال في تصريحات نشرتها “فوتبول إيطاليا” :”كنت أخشى أن يدخل الفريق فترة الاستراحة متعادلاً بدون أهداف وأن يكون الفريق متوترًا بعد استئناف اللعب، لكنهم حافظوا على نفس الروح وقدم الفريق أداء رائعًا”.

وأضاف :”كنا نعلم أنه يجب علينا المخاطرة وترك مواقف فردية في الهجمات المرتدة نظراً لكثرة المهاجمين في الملعب، كان من المهم تمرير الكرة على الأطراف ومهاجمة دفاعاتهم ولم يحالفنا الحظ في التسجيل مبكراً، أهنئ اللاعبين لأننا حظينا بأجواء تدريبية رائعة لمدة ثلاث أيام”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | بداية مثالية لـ جاتوزو.. إيطاليا تصعق إستونيا بخماسية في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

وواصل :”كما قلت دائماً، هذا الفريق يتمتع بالجودة لكن الجودة وحدها لا تكفي لتحقيق أي شيء، على هذا الفريق أن يبذل قصارى جهده ويهاجم ويضغط بقوة ويظهر بحماس كبير، أعتقد أننا رأينا كل ذلك اليوم”.

وحول نشيد منتخب إيطاليا الذي أظهر شغف جاتوزو وهو نفس الشغف الذي رافقه كلاعب منذ فوزه بكأس العالم 2006، قال: “تأثرت قليلاً أثناء النشيد، قررت ترك اللاعبين وشأنهم خلال الإحماء ومغادرة الملعب لأنني تحدثت إليهم كثيراً خلال الأيام القليلة الماضية مما أثار أعصابهم”.

وأتم: “هناك ضغط كبير أشعر به وهذا أمر طبيعي لكنني أحاول أن أعيشه بإيجابية، أنا محظوظ لأن الأجواء كانت رائعة منذ اليوم الأول لوصولي مع الجهاز الفني”.

وحول اللعب في المباراة القادمة ضد الكيان الصهيوني، رد جاتوزو حول الوضع في غزة: “أنا رجل سلام ومن المؤسف رؤية الأطفال والمدنيين يمرون بهذا”.

وختم: “نحن ببساطة غير محظوظين بوجود هذا الخصم في مجموعتنا، لا يمكننا فعل الكثير حيال ذلك، ما نراه مؤلمًا وهذا كل ما أستطيع قوله”.

After agreeing a deal to sign Zepiqueno Redmond on a free transfer, Aston Villa have now reportedly made an offer to sign a Serie A champion who is tempted to complete a move to the Midlands.

Aston Villa set to sign Redmond

Kicking off their summer business as early as possible, the Villans are reportedly set to sign Redmond from Feyenoord when his current contract comes to an end at the end of the month. At just 18 years old, the Dutchman very much reflects the future of Aston Villa’s frontline and could provide Unai Emery with a replacement for Jhon Duran that he has needed at times.

When it comes to first-team experience, the young forward has already received a taste of Eredivisie action at Feyenoord and even featured in the Champions League last season. Now, Redmond will be keen to add some Premier League experience to a portfolio that only looks likely to grow more and more impressive as the years go on.

Despite their PSR concerns, Redmond could yet be the first of a few fresh faces in the Midlands if reports are anything to go by. Recent rumours have mentioned names such as Jack Grealish in recent weeks and there’s no doubt that his return would cause quite the stir.

Having been shown the door at Manchester City, Grealish could yet complete a sensational Villa comeback and one that would need to see him get fans back onside as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, away from Grealish, the Villans have also reportedly submitted an offer to sign a Serie A champion this summer.

Aston Villa submit offer to sign Rrahmani

According to Il Mattino, as relayed by CalcioNapoli, Aston Villa have now submitted an offer to sign Amir Rrahmani from Napoli this summer and whilst he is not desperate to leave the Italian club, he is reportedly tempted by the offer from the Midlands.

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Villa aren’t alone in their pursuit, however, with Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly chasing a deal to sign the experienced centre-back. And that interest should come as no surprise. The 31-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign as part of Napoli’s Serie A-winning side, starting in all 38 games, and has done more than enough to attract impressive admirers.

Starts

38

23

Progressive Passes

4.97

4.33

Tackles Won

0.82

0.67

Ball Recoveries

3.57

2.77

Given how highly those in the Midlands rate Pau Torres, the fact that Rrahmani outperformed the Spaniard in several areas proves just how impressive an addition he would be.

A deal may be easier said than done, however, especially if Antonio Conte has his say. The Napoli boss was full of praise for his defender last season, describing him as “hardworking” and like a “solider” in his title-winning side.

Today is the day for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou and his team can make their fans forget about their diabolically poor domestic season by continuing their impressive European run and winning the Europa League Final.

However, with Manchester United having a stellar track record on the continent this season as well, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll get their hand on the trophy come full-time.

To give his team a better chance of coming away victorious, Postecoglou will have to make a number of changes to the starting lineup that lost away to Aston Villa on Friday night, like dropping Mikey Moore.

Why Moore should be dropped

The first thing to say is that while we think Moore should be taken out of the team, that doesn’t mean we don’t think he’ll have a large part to play for the club in the coming seasons.

After all, his youth record of 21 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances across the various levels is nothing short of spectacular, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, he’s a “future superstar” in the making.

However, he is still just 17 years old, and while he has looked reasonably impressive for the senior team here and there, he’s not had a significant enough impact – three goal involvements in 21 games – to warrant a start in the club’s biggest game since the Champions League Final.

Minutes

87′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.00

Assists

0

Accurate passes

7/9 (78%)

Key passes

0

Crosses (accurate)

1 (0)

Shots on target

0

Ground duels (won)

9 (4)

Possession lost

7

Dribbled past

2

Dribble attempts (successful)

3 (0)

Moreover, his inexperience showed somewhat at Villa Park, as he struggled to assert himself on the game and eventually came off the pitch in the 87th minute, having made just seven passes and failing in 100% of his dribbles.

Moreover, with Brennan Johnson still the team’s top scorer in all competitions this term, with 17 in 49 games, it should go without saying that he should be starting on the right ahead of everyone else.

The other Spurs star who should be dropped

Given the underwhelming nature of the game, there are a few other players you could bring up who should probably be taken out of the team for the final, like Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and more.

Yet, in this instance, we are talking about another starter in the attack: Mathys Tel.

The young Frenchman might well be one of the more exciting players in the Lilywhites’ squad, with some at the club reportedly labelling him a “generational talent” before he arrived in February, but against the Villans, he didn’t do enough to convince us he should keep his place in the team for tonight’s monumental clash.

Minutes

96′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.15

Assists

0

Accurate passes

12/14 (86%)

Key passes

1

Crosses (accurate)

1 (0)

Shots on target

0

Big chances created

1

Dribble attempts (successful)

5 (1)

Duels (won)

14 (4)

Possession lost

11

Fouls

4

For example, despite leading the line for 96 minutes, he failed to take a single shot on target, registered just 0.15 expected assists, failed in 80% of his attempted dribbles, completed only 12 passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, missed one big chance, lost ten of 14 duels, lost the ball 11 times and committed four fouls.

Add to that the fact that he’s scored just three goals and provided one assist in 19 appearances for the club this season, and it’s almost impossible to make a convincing argument about why he should lead the line against the Red Devils.

Moreover, Dominic Solanke, the man who should come in to replace him, has been far more effective in front of goal this season, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in 43 appearances.

Ultimately, Tel could still be a useful asset for Spurs in tonight’s final, but to get the most out of him, Postecoglou would be better off starting him on the bench and then bringing him on later into the match as things get stretched so that he can exploit the opening spaces with his pace.

Ange can fix Kulu & Bergvall blow by unleashing Spurs "monster" in new role

The gifted international could be the answer for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 20, 2025

Liverpool’s second-half collapse may have put a dampener on Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, although the Premier League champions had started the day in rampant mood, after racing into a two-goal lead at Anfield.

Two goals in the space of a minute from Cody Gakpo and Luiz Diaz came amid that first-half onslaught for the hosts, with the pair having now scored 18 and 17 goals, respectively, this season in all competitions.

With Mohamed Salah – who boasts 33 across all fronts – rounding off that frontline, the trio have been the standout figures in Arne Slot’s attacking unit in 2024/25, with no other player having reached double figures for goals thus far.

While there had been doubts over Diaz’s future at the club, more recent reports suggested that a new deal could be on the cards for the former Porto man. Salah, of course, has already put pen to paper on his long-awaited contract extension.

Gakpo PL season in numbers – 23/24 vs 24/25

Stat (*per game)

23/24

24/25

Games (starts)

35 (17)

33 (21)

Goals

8

10

Scoring frequency

206min

179min

Big chances missed

6

6

Big chances created

5

8

Assists

5

3

Key passes*

0.7

1.0

Pass accuracy*

79%

84%

Successful dribbles*

0.9

0.9

Stats via Sofascore

With Gakpo, meanwhile, tied down until 2028, the flanks look to be in a good place for the Merseysiders moving forward. That said, a new wideman could be on the cards this summer…

Liverpool's search for a forward

It is no secret that Liverpool’s priority ahead of next term is likely to be the addition of a new centre-forward, with Darwin Nunez looking set to depart after netting just seven times in total this season.

The primary target would appear to be Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, albeit with the £100m-rated Swede seemingly out of reach, the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are also reportedly under consideration.

Away from the pursuit of a number nine, however, journalist Graeme Bailey has also reported that the Reds could be in the mix for Athletic Club sensation, Nico Williams, with the Spaniard seemingly ‘willing’ to move to England this summer.

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According to Bailey, it is Arsenal and Chelsea who are leading the race at present, although Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool have all made contact with the player’s representatives.

As reported elsewhere, the Euro 2024 winner would be able to depart if any suitor triggers his €58m (£49m) release clause, albeit with one potential sticking point likely to prove his wage demands. The Daily Mail – via GOAL – reported he would be looking to earn more than £400k-per-week, a figure close to what Virgil van Dijk will seemingly be taking home following the signing of his own extension.

Such a salary could prove a real stumbling block for Slot and co, although should a compromise be met, the 22-year-old would be a more than worthy addition to the Anfield ranks.

Why Liverpool could be targeting the next Gakpo

As noted above, Sunday’s stalemate with the Gunners saw Gakpo get on the scoresheet once again, with the 26-year-old nodding home from Andy Robertson’s whipped cross to notch his tenth Premier League goal of the campaign.

That marked the first time that the former PSV Eindhoven man has reached double figures for league goals for the club, after netting 15 times in the 18 months prior to that, following his £35m arrival in January 2023.

Prior to moving to Merseyside, the then-Manchester United target had been a real revelation in his homeland for PSV, having registered 55 goals and 49 assists in 149 games for the Eredivisie giants, offering a relentless threat down the left flank or in a central role.

Such quality had also been on show on the international scene, with Gakpo scoring in every group stage game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, just a matter of months before moving to England.

In many ways, there would be a sense of Deja Vu if young Williams is to follow suit this summer, with the Bilbao wizard having also dazzled in his homeland, with 61 goals and assists in 166 senior games.

That includes a return of 11 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season, amid the Basque side’s surge to the Europa League semi-final, with it no surprise that he has been dubbed “one of the best wingers on the market” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Like Gakpo too, it is for his national team where Williams has perhaps made the bigger splash, having started in six of Spain’s seven games en route to glory last summer, while memorably netting in the showpiece success over England.

A natural right-footer who typically operates off the left flank, much like Gakpo, Williams also emulates his Liverpool counterpart due to his versatility, having also been just as comfortable operating on the opposite side in his career to date,

That flexibility should ensure that the in-demand speedster provides welcome competition and cover for the likes of Diaz, Gakpo and Salah on either flank, with the chance there for Williams to enjoy gradual progression in a Liverpool shirt – much like Gakpo has been afforded the time to do.

As this campaign has already showcased, Slot’s starting lineup looks strong and healthy – now it’s the time to really enhance the squad as a whole with exciting, high potential moves.

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It’s been a rough ride for the Lilywhites this year. The end of the 2024/25 campaign is just one month away, but despite the pain that Tottenham Hotspur have endured, there may yet be light at the end of the tunnel.

Ange Postecoglou made a big claim in the early stage of the season, suggesting silverware may be on the way. Well, even though Spurs are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League with just a few years of the term left to play, they have one foot in the Europa League final.

Despite his polarising time at the helm, Postecoglou may yet leave an unforgettable legacy down N17.

Postecoglou's Spurs legacy

Tottenham have fallen by the wayside this season, of that there is no doubt. However, they could yet pick themselves back up, with Ange’s attacking philosophy looking to dig its claws back in ahead of the penultimate hurdle in the Europa League.

He’s received a lot of stick for his team’s issues across the term, but Postecoglou’s reign has unfortunately been characterised by persistent injuries.

Even so, he’s managed to create a semblance of offensive quality that was vacant in the years preceding his tenure, those post-Mauricio Pochettino years when things went awry and Tottenham regressed away from their staple flair and fearlessness in the final third.

And it’s remarkable that he’s achieved this. Long gone are the days of Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich in an £86m deal two years ago. The Three Lions skipper became Tottenham’s record goalscorer when netting against Manchester City in February 2023, scoring 280 goals across 435 appearances.

His partnership with Dele Alli and Heung-min Son was truly a thing to behold, but Son, now skipper, is the only one still kicking around down N17.

Dele might have endured his share of off-field issues in recent years but he will always be remembered for his prodigious start to life in the Premier League, scoring 37 goals and supplying 27 assists across his first three top-flight campaigns alone.

Son, meanwhile, has long been regarded as a “world-class” forward, as has been said here by former boss Jose Mourinho, with his 127 goals in England’s top flight placing him joint 16th in the all-time scoring charts.

Dele and Kane’s brilliance felt irreplaceable, and Son’s influence and longevity in the Englishg capital too, but Postecoglou’s formula appears to have found a new generation of forwards capable of collecting the torch from their Tottenham predecessors.

Postecoglou took on quite a weight when replacing Antonio Conte, but he’s succeeded in restoring Spurs’ attacking quality, their flair. In fact, he’s even moulded the Londoners’ frontline back into top shape, with three current stars looking like the next version of the iconic trio.

Spurs' new attacking superstars

Though this has been a campaign fraught with peril, Postecoglou has still managed to keep his attacking identity somewhat intact, with the 16th-placed Premier League side still among the division’s top goalscorers.

Premier League 24/25 – Highest Goalscorers

Rank

Club

Position

Goals

1

Liverpool

1st

80

2

Man City

3rd

67

3

Newcastle

4th

65

4

Arsenal

2nd

63

5

Tottenham

16th

62

Stats via Premier League

This is largely down to Dejan Kulusevski, whose energy and creativity have been an invaluable source of respite for a sinking ship. However, he’s not done it alone; Brennan Johnson has hit 16 goal contributions in the Premier League alone, despite only starting 23 times throughout an injury-affected year.

Then there’s Dominic Solanke, Kane’s belated replacement as the focal frontman. Injuries have been the crux of Tottenham’s struggle this year, and their club-record signing has very much been a victim of the blows. Even so, he’s been a worthy presence at number nine, notching 22 goal involvements across just 34 starts.

The trio, whose combined wages total some £270k per week, have definitely staked their claim for central roles over the coming years, be that under Postecoglou’s wing or in a different manager’s system.

Having each registered over 20 goal involvements across all competitions, they’ve proven their attacking credentials, with Son and James Maddison also hitting that mark.

But Son is indeed approaching his twilight in the Premier League, and Ange and co will be well aware that Tottenham need a new attacking lifeforce, one which could revive the feeling that the South Korean provided when alongside Dele and Kane.

Of course, these were attacking superstars capable of firing their way to lofty hauls every year, actually becoming the first trio to hit 20 goals each in a campaign back in the 2016/17 year, when the Pochettino era was in its heyday from an attacking standpoint.

Now, Postecoglou has found new players capable of breaking such records, and though there’s been plenty to be desired this year, this certainly bodes well for the years ahead.

Three of Tottenham’s brightest stars of the modern age, they may well be reborn through this new batch of talent, one which might just go one further and end this ceaseless wait for silverware.

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Everton are in a fantastic position to kick on under David Moyes and could look to strike a deal for an exciting international to join their revolution at Bramley Moore Dock.

Everton ready for stadium move under David Moyes

Goodison Park will soon be consigned to the history books, and an emotional farewell to their home beckons against Southampton next month before moving across the city to the newly furnished Everton Stadium.

David Moyes will hope to take the Toffees’ magnificent form with them to new pastures. Following their last-gasp victory over Nottingham Forest, the Scot has lost just three of his 14 matches in charge, and his side are among the form teams in the Premier League.

Painting a pretty picture in the early stages of the Friedkin Group’s reign, Everton will hope to move the needle in the transfer market to bolster a squad in need of surgery.

According to reports, The Toffees are keen on Sevilla defender Juanlu Sanchez alongside a host of other clubs amid his potential availability for £15 million this summer.

Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis is also said to be on Everton’s radar, but the Greek striker’s mammoth £80 million release clause may complicate negotiations between all parties.

£130,000-per-week Everton star wants to stay and is now open to new deal

This would be fantastic news for the Reds.

1

By
Henry Jackson

Apr 13, 2025

Either way, there are plenty of decisions to be made internally before structuring the layout of Moyes’ options in 2025/26. Abdoulaye Doucoure is open to a new deal, though several of his teammates are out of contract or are coming to the end of loan stints on Merseyside.

While progress is made on tough decisions, Moyes and company are now eyeing an ambitious move for an international player that could be open to a change of scenery.

Everton look to sign Facundo Medina from RC Lens

According to CaughtOffside, Everton are closely monitoring Facundo Medina’s situation at RC Lens and may look to strike a deal north of £30 million to sign the Argentina international.

Open to a new challenge in the summer, the 25-year-old, who can play left or centre-back, is also on the radar of Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma.

Facundo Medina’s excellent Ligue 1 campaign – 2024/25
Accurate long balls	72
Chances created	23
Tackles won	25
Recoveries	145
Assists	1
Average match rating	7.11

Intriguingly, Lens find themselves in financial disrepute, and they plan to sell the defender while his stock is high, alleviating pressure to balance the books. Labelled “elite” by Ben Mattinson, sought-after Medina has also completed 62 shot-creating actions on league duty, placing him in the 99th percentile for this metric among defenders in Europe’s top-five leagues.

Evaluating Everton’s situation, Jarrad Branthwaite is likely to attract interest this summer, and it may make sense to scope out potential replacements for the Three Lions international.

Medina is left-footed and has a similar habit of excelling in possession, creating suspicion that he may be the preferred option to become a long-term successor to the Toffees star.

Many would regard midfield as the toughest area on the pitch, tasked with contributing to all phases of play, being at the very centre of everything your team does. Chelsea clearly value this area too, already spending £100m on two separate occasions to acquire top-level midfielders, breaking their transfer record twice in the process.

The Blues have an esteemed history of midfield talent in the Premier League era, whether it be midfield destroyers such as Claude Makelele, passing magicians such as Cesc Fàbregas and goal-scoring midfielders such as Frank Lampard.

But one of their very best, especially considering the price they got for him at the time, was N’Golo Kante, bought from Leicester in 2016 for a fee of around £32m.

N'Golo Kante's record at Chelsea

Kante made 269 appearances for the Blues, scoring 13 times, providing 16 assists and totaling 20,742 minutes played. The Frenchman is considered a huge legend of the club, winning the Premier League and Champions League in his time at Chelsea, alongside one Europa League, one FA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup.

The France midfielder has always been praised for his ability to cover ground, winning tackles and often making it feel like there is a 12th man on the pitch, with his incredible engine and work ethic. This was highlighted by a famous quote surrounding Kante, stating “70% of the Earth is covered by water, Kante covers the rest”.

Kante was crucial in Chelsea’s 2020/21 Champions League campaign, earning him the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season award for that year and winning Man of the Match in the final against Manchester City.

One word that has always been associated with Kante is “humble” as fans often praise him for his humility as a person. And now there is another Chelsea star who is drawing comparisons, also being regarded as “humble” by his manager.

Chelsea have found their best since Kante

Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo for a fee of around £115m, making him the British record transfer. The 23-year-old has made 83 appearances since joining in 2023, scoring two goals, providing seven assists and totaling 6,859 minutes played.

Minutes

90

Touches

51

Accurate Passes

37/41

Long Balls

5/5

Successful Dribbles

1/1

Ground Duels Won

8/9

Aerial Duels Won

1/4

Tackles Made

4

It was after this performance that Enzo Maresca came out and stated that is”one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world right now”. Making four tackles and winning eight of his nine ground duels in the game, Caicedo protected the back line brilliantly, limiting Tottenham to just two shots on target in the game.

But it isn’t just his work rate and ability to cover ground, winning duels for his team, as Caicedo also plays a huge part in the build-up, making five out of five long passes in the match, and also having an absolute scorching strike chalked off, as Levi Colwill was stood in an offside position.

Whilst it’s tough for a £115m player to fully prove their worth, Caicedo has proven to be a successful signing for the Blues, anchoring their midfield and receiving notably praised, with John Obi-Mikel stating after the win over West Ham United earlier in the season that it was “like a Kante kind of performance” from the former Brighton.

As such, he is definitely proving to be a worthy heir to the Frenchman’s throne.

Maresca's own Drogba: Chelsea plot summer move for "phenomenal" CF

Chelsea could land a player this summer who could be their next Didier Drogba.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 3, 2025

In his second game after a two-month break, Kohli serves a reminder with an explosive innings at Chinnaswamy

Hemant Brar26-Mar-20242:11

Moody: Kohli showed all his gears

The boisterous Chinnaswamy crowd had gone quiet towards the end of Punjab Kings’ innings as Shashank Singh carted Alzarri Joseph for two sixes and a four in a 20-run final over.That lifted Kings to 176 for 6. Given the average first-innings total in Bengaluru last IPL was 196, it felt below par. But this was not a typical Chinnaswamy pitch where you could hit through the line. It had just enough grass covering and help for both seamers and spinners.Just like the RCB bowlers, Sam Curran also found movement with the new ball, and drew a false shot from Virat Kohli first up. But the thick outside edge did not carry to short third.Related

• Kohli on his two-month break: 'A surreal experience not to be recognised'

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• Why Bengaluru brings few home comforts for RCB

On the next ball, Kohli was even luckier. This time the outside edge burst through Jonny Bairstow’s hands at first slip. Usually, the first-slip fielder stands one metre behind the wicketkeeper, but Bairstow was right next to Jitesh Sharma and, therefore, had little time to react.From there on, it was a Kohli innings like no other. On the third ball of the over, he came down the track, cut the movement, and creamed it through the covers. By the end of the first over, he had found two more boundaries, and the Chinnaswamy faithful went “Aaar Ceee Beee! Aaar Ceee Beee!”Next in the firing line was Kagiso Rabada. Before Monday, Rabada had dismissed Kohli three times in 24 balls while conceding just 27. Here, on Rabada’s very first ball, a length delivery around off stump, Kohli jumped out of his crease and smashed it over extra cover. In the next over, he meted out the same treatment to Arshdeep Singh.In his first 15 balls, Kohli had hit eight fours and raced away to 33. It was the most runs he had scored off his first 15 balls in a T20, and his eight boundaries were the joint-most by an RCB batter after four overs in an innings.And he was not slogging. He rarely does. When Arshdeep slipped in a slower ball, he delayed his shot and opened the face at the last moment to steer it past a diving Bairstow for four.In the sixth over, Kohli got another reprieve when he mistimed Curran to the left of short midwicket, but Rahul Chahar could not latch on to it despite a full-length dive.1:46

Rapid fire review: A 10/10 innings from Virat Kohli

It is after the powerplay that Kohli generally drops the anchor. Since the start of 2020, his middle-overs strike rate in the IPL is 117.53. But on Monday, he kept playing attacking cricket and scored at a strike rate of 150 in the middle overs.Previously, he had scored only 32 runs off 37 balls against Chahar in the IPL. Here, the first ball he faced from the legspinner, Kohli smashed it over extra cover for a six.Kohli brought up his fifty in 31 balls – his 100th score of 50 or more in T20s. But there was no celebration – just a thumbs-up to acknowledge the applause from the dressing room. The reason was that while Kohli himself was off to a flying start, RCB were behind the asking rate. Moreover, they had lost Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green for a combined six runs.Harpreet Brar then bowled Rajat Patidar for a run-a-ball 18 and Glenn Maxwell for 3. But Kohli singlehandedly kept RCB alive.When Kohli was India’s captain, one of the things he demanded from his batters was intent, even in Tests. “Intent does not mean you have to go out and start playing shots from ball one,” he once explained. “Intent is there in a leave. Intent is there in defending as well. Intent is about being vocal out there in calling.”That may be true in Test cricket, but in T20s, intent means only one thing: playing your shots. And that is exactly what Kohli did against Kings. As per ESPNcricinfo’s logs, he attacked 11 balls in the powerplay, the most he has ever done in T20 cricket. In the middle overs, he attacked 14, the second-most in his career.

“I know my name is nowadays quite attached to just promoting the game in many parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. But still got it, I guess.”Virat Kohli

There could be a couple of reasons behind it. With the T20 World Cup in June, this is the way the Indian team wants him to bat. Secondly, RCB’s batting depth might also have freed him up. Green joined them before this season; Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik had made handy contributions in the previous game; they had an extra batter in Mahipal Lomror, slotted at No. 8, against Kings.Kohli eventually fell for 77 off 49 balls, slicing Harshal Patel straight to deep-backward point. RCB still needed 47 from four overs at that point, but Karthik and Lomror took them home with four balls to spare.”I was very disappointed I could not finish the game; that ball was in the slot,” Kohli said after being named the Player of the Match. “But yeah, not a bad start for playing after two months and getting into the tournament.”Talking about his mindset while batting, he said: “In T20 cricket, as I am opening here, I try to give the team a blazing start. But if the wickets fall from the other end, you have to understand the conditions as well.”The wicket was not as placid as Bangalore usually is. It was a bit two-paced. And I thought I needed to play correct cricketing shots. Playing across the line was not quite working; I tried a few.”What about his lofted cover drives after coming down the pitch to Rabada and Arshdeep?”They know I play the cover drive pretty well,” he said. “So they are not going to allow me to hit through the gaps. And with guys like KG [Rabada], and Arshdeep as well – he is also tall, if they are hitting [good] length, you have to create some momentum into the ball. Once you are closer to the ball, you kind of negate the bounce; you meet it earlier.”You have to come up with a plan here and there, and try to keep improving your game. I know my name is nowadays quite attached to just promoting the game in many parts of the world when it comes to T20 cricket. But still got it, I guess.”Who could have disagreed?