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Australia claimed their 11th clean sweep in their last 12 ODI series as Mooney made a career-best 133

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2023Beth Mooney’s big-hitting century has helped Australia to a 101-run win over Pakistan, wrapping up another ODI series clean sweep for Meg Lanning’s team.After being sent in, Mooney monstered 133 from 105 balls while Lanning struck 72 from 70 to help Australia post 336 for 9 in Saturday’s match at North Sydney Oval.Pakistan had their best day of the tour in reply with 235 for 7, their equal-highest ODI total against Australia, but the visitors were never really in the hunt as they fell well behind the run-rate required.The win completed a 3-0 series victory for Australia, who have now swept 11 of their past 12 bilateral ODI series. With a T20 World Cup to be played in South Africa next month, Mooney’s brutal display of hitting will also have sounded a warning to Australia’s rivals there.Scratchy at first, Mooney eventually unleashed on Pakistan’s attack with Tuba Hassan copping the worst of the punishment on ODI debut. The Queenslander hit the legspinner for three straight sixes over the legside – one landing on the roof of the O’Reilly Stand and another bouncing off it and onto the road.Ash Gardner and Meg Lanning celebrate•Getty Images

Another six off the spinner was down the ground while she brought up her third ODI hundred when she hit Hassan behind square for four. It came after Mooney scored 16 from her first 37 balls, before striking 117 from her next 68.Mooney wasn’t alone in handing out the punishment as Hassan finished with 0 for 69 from six overs. Lanning hit the 22-year-old into the window of the commentary box to bring up her 50. Australia’s captain was also clinical against the quicks, cutting the ball whenever she was offered any width as Pakistan’s bowling waned after a tight start.Her 72 is a good sign for Australia ahead this week’s T20I series against Pakistan and the looming World Cup, with the series her first since her five-month personal break.Teenage Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield was dismissed for the first time in her ODI career, bowled for nine by Fatima Sana after unbeaten scores of 78 and 67 in Brisbane.Australia were less dominant with the ball than in the first two matches, and also gave up 25 wides. Ashleigh Gardner was Australia’s best with 3 for 30, bowling Sidra Ameen out of the rough and later going through Bismah Maroof on 44.There was a moment of confusion with Nida Dar on 5 when she pulled away from a Tahlia McGrath ball at the last moment and it cannoned into her stumps. The ball was declared dead and Dar was able to continue batting, before she later fell to Annabel Sutherland on 29.

Former head coach blames “our own system” for disrespecting and discrediting “our own people” and local coaches

Umar Farooq01-Feb-2023Former Pakistan captain and coach Misbah-ul-Haq sees the likely rehiring of Mickey Arthur by the PCB as “a slap on Pakistan cricket”. Arthur is likely to come on board as the Pakistan men’s team director. Misbah blamed former Pakistan players for damaging the credibility of the system and forcing the PCB, led at the moment by Najam Sethi, to look outside the country for top coaching roles.The PCB’s talks with Arthur, who had coached Pakistan from 2016 to 2019, had stalled three weeks ago but have picked up considerable pace again. So much so that the board is believed to be close to agreeing a deal with him as team director and not, as in his previous stint, as head coach.The Pakistan job, should Arthur accept it, will run concurrently to his long-term deal with Derbyshire. Arthur does not want to leave the Derby job and both parties have worked out an agreement and schedule allowing him to fulfill both roles. It will be an unusual arrangement for international cricket, in which Arthur will not be with the Pakistan team on every tour but will have a handpicked group of support staff running operations.Related

• Misbah-ul-Haq set to work with the PCB again

• Pakistan might rest Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to manage workloads

• Yasir Arafat on Mickey Arthur's radar to be Pakistan's new bowling coach

• PCB's talks with Mickey Arthur to coach Pakistan fall through

• Mickey Arthur set to be appointed Pakistan team director

“It’s a slap on our cricket system that we are not able to find a high-profile full-time coach,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s a shame that the best ones do not want to come and we insist on having someone who is looking at Pakistan as a second option.”I blame our own system, which is vulnerable enough with so many weak lines for anyone to exploit it. We are to be blamed ourselves that we have disrespected and discredited our own people to make a bad image. The present and former lot don’t respect each other, with media and former players using their own YouTube channels for ratings, damaging the credibility and value of our cricket which, as as result, gives an impression that we are not capable.”The Pakistan cricket fan is always disgruntled; he is picking up things from the media and is under the wrong impression. Players speaking against each other with grudges and talking openly with disdain just devalues our community, and that becomes the common perception. The game is hardly a subject of objective and constructive discussion.”Cricket is the most popular sport in the country but sadly never hits the headlines in the right way. It’s chaos; former cricketers ridiculing their fellow cricketers on national channels with fans getting the wrong sense. There is no empathy, no respect, and no conducive environment in the cricketing quarter of our country.”Mickey Arthur is set to join PCB as team director for the men’s team•AFP

Misbah’s comments on Arthur come with their own context, of course. Misbah was part of the committee that recommended the discontinuation of Arthur’s tenure after the 2019 World Cup. And he then replaced Arthur in the head coach position, with unprecedented influence by also becoming – uniquely – the chief selector. Misbah then resigned with a year left in the role, in September 2021.There has always been plenty of debate in Pakistan about foreign and local coaches, and Misbah said that the handling of each individual has been inconsistent by the PCB administration, with local coaches facing more scrutiny.”PCB is always ready to back foreign coaches but never supports the local ones,” Misbah said. “They are fond of having overseas coaches because they think locals can easily be politicised and are incapable. But do we know it’s the PCB bureaucracy who politicised the structure? They throw the local ones under the bus when they come under pressure and there has never been accountability of this bureaucracy in PCB. It’s the mismanagement and the consistent changes at the helm that is a problem and we are never able to find one solid line for our cricket.”Now there is a common narrative that Pakistan cricket does not even have a single capable guy and they are forced to look outside. Successful teams like India have completely shifted to homegrown coaches but sadly the policies here are so inconsistent and vague that we are never able to reach a consensus on what we want to do. We have some very good people in our system who can contribute well like Haji (Mohammad Akram), Aaqib Javed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, etc. but their reputation has been tarnished so badly and people think they are not right for the job.”During Ehsan Mani’s tenure, the PCB tried to rope in younger former cricketers but several former players were reluctant to join because of the board’s inherent instability and internal working culture. Wasim Akram is a prime example, having always distanced himself from taking up a PCB job and has preferred to work on a short-term role away from public scrutiny. Inzamam joined as chief selector and decided not to take a long-term role either, after completing his original tenure.Under Mani, the PCB had formed a blueprint for developing home-grown coaches and revamped the National Cricket Academy by turning it into a high performance centre for player and coach development, and recruited a large number of coaches in the system. But Ramiz Raja, after becoming PCB chairman, brought in overseas coaches at the grassroots and domestic level and reset the entire structure.

Atletico Madrid are one of the biggest clubs in Spain and have some superstars on the books at the Metropolitano Stadium.

In fact, in the 2025/26 season, Atletico have an annual payroll of €157,285,000, with the average player earning an incredible €6m a season.

But who earns what under Diego Simeone? Every Atletico Madrid player has been ranked in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025/26 season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Here's a detailed look at Atletico Madrid's top 10 earners…

10

Koke

€128,269 per week

Club legend and captain Koke has been on the books with Atletico Madrid since he was a child, with his first professional contract coming back in 2009.

Since then, Koke has recorded an incredible tally of over 690 appearances in red and white and has won nine major honours. His deal expires in 2026 as it stands.

9

Clement Lenglet

€140,385 per week

After spending the 2024/25 season on loan at the Metropolitano from Barcelona, Clement Lenglet made his move to Atletico Madrid permanent.

The French defender signed a three-year deal worth €7.3m per season.

8

Alexander Sorloth

€140,385 per week

Alexander Sorloth is on the same salary as Lenglet, although the Norwegian forward joined 12 months earlier from Villarreal.

His contract also expires in 2028.

7

Nicolas Gonzalez

€144,231 per week

Nicolas Gonzalez is on loan at Atletico Madrid for the 2025/26 season from Italian giants Juventus, although the Spanish side will have the option to make a move permanent at the end of the campaign.

For now, Atletico will pay the winger €7.5m for the season in wages.

6

Alex Baena

€160,192 per week

Joining in the summer of 2025 in a deal worth around around €50m from Villarreal was Alex Baena.

Capable of playing on either wing or as an attacking midfielder, Baena signed a five-year deal at the Metropolitano.

5

Marcos Llorente

€160,192 per week

Also on €8.33m per season is versatile midfielder Marcos Llorente, who moved to the club from rivals Real Madrid in 2019.

Capable of playing as a right-back, right-midfielder or central midfielder, Llorente appears to be a dream player for Simeone and has turned out over 250 times for Atletico since his arrival.

4

Conor Gallagher

€173,077 per week

English midfielder Conor Gallagher swapped Chelsea for Atletico in 2024, with the La Liga side paying around €40m for his services.

Gallagher signed a five-year deal worth €9m per season and looks set to play a key role at the Metropolitano during that time.

3

Antoine Griezmann

€180,385 per week

Coming in at third place is Antoine Griezmann, who completed a permanent return to Atletico Madrid from Barcelona in 2022 for €40m.

His time at Camp Nou didn’t exactly go to plan, but he has been back scoring goals on a regular basis for Atletico and became the club’s all-time top goalscorer in 2024.

2

Julian Alvarez

€240,385 per week

Atletico splashed the cash in 2024 to sign forward Julian Alvarez from Manchester City, who sold the World Cup winner for a club-record fee.

The Argentina international could end up costing the Spanish giants €95m (£78.9m) if all add-ons are met, with Alvarez picking up €12.5m per season.

1

Jan Oblak

€400,577 per week

Comfortably top of the charts and Atletico Madrid’s highest-paid player is goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who earns a whopping €20.83m per season.

The Slovenia international has been one of the best ‘keepers in the world for some time now and has been with Atletico since 2014. His huge contract was signed in 2022 and runs until 2028.

Alan Pulido, the 34-year-old forward who has featured in only five matches for Chivas during the Apertura 2025, will not be renewed by the Red and Whites’ front office, according to reports. The former Sporting Kansas City striker is expected to seek a new club in Liga MX. He has yet to score in seven appearances this year.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pulido first, Hernández to follow

  According to multiple reports from Mexico, Pulido will not renew his contract with El Rebaño, making him the club’s first confirmed departure ahead of the 2026 Clausura. Teams such as Pumas are reportedly interested in the forward, who has scored just two goals in 20 appearances since rejoining the club.

  Javier Hernández is another player who won’t continue with the team.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Fading legends in Guadalajara

  Both Pulido and Hernández left Chivas as legends and were welcomed back as such when they returned a few seasons ago, as part of the club’s plan to rebuild and restore its former glory. However, neither player has managed to make a meaningful impact in their second stint, and neither is expected to continue beyond this year.

  Between them, the two have combined for just five goals since returning to Chivas – with Hernández scoring three in 39 appearances. The veteran striker has featured in only four matches during the Apertura 2025.

• AFP
  

  Chicharito, Pulido pass the torch

  Chivas will part ways with two of their legends as Gabriel Milito’s side enjoys one of its best runs in recent years. The team sits sixth in the Apertura 2025 with 23 points and has found its new starting striker in academy product Armando González.

  At just 22 years old, González has been the breakout star of the tournament, scoring 10 goals in 15 matches. With his emergence, the club’s board won’t hesitate to say goodbye to two former heroes whose glory days now belong to the past.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next?

  Chivas visit Pachuca this Sunday looking for a win that would secure their hold on sixth place. Surprisingly, they’re no longer in contention for a higher spot, as fifth-place Monterrey sit on 30 points with only six left to play for.

  That’s why Chivas, currently on 23 points, will aim to protect their position and clinch direct qualification to the Liguilla.

O’Neill took 5 for 26 while Boland claimed three as Victoria claimed a sizeable lead, but Liam Hatcher continued his fine game

Alex Malcolm16-Oct-2025Fergus O’Neill continued to push his case to be part of an extended Ashes squad with yet another five-wicket haul while Scott Boland bagged three to hand Victoria an important lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at the Junction Oval.After the pair had scythed through the NSW top-order on the opening night, including Boland bagging Sam Konstas for a duck, O’Neill continued the carnage on the second day picking up 5 for 26 while Boland claimed 3 for 59 as NSW were bowled out for just 163.Related

• Fergus O'Neill averages 20 with the ball, but can he play Test cricket?

• Abbott first to be subbed out under new Sheffield Shield injury rule

• Konstas' Test hopes fade with a duck on 13-wicket day

It handed Victoria a first innings lead of 77 which they pushed to 149 for the loss of only one wicket into the evening session but then suffered a late collapse under gloomy skies, losing 4 for 21 before bad light stopped play with 45 minutes left. Liam Hatcher claimed another three wickets to go with his five on day one.At the start of the day Matthew Gilkes and nightwatcher Ryan Hadley provided stubborn resistance in the first hour but when O’Neill replaced Boland from the northern end he showcased why he is the reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year. After a close shout for caught behind he pinned Hadley lbw for 5 off 54 balls with a delivery that jagged sharply in off the seam.O’Neill could have had Ollie Davies out three times after he was dropped twice at cover by Harry Dixon. But he did not survive his third chance in 15 balls when he edged another probing delivery to Peter Handscomb at second slip.Gilkes had fought harder than any other NSW batter to reach 41 off 98 deliveries before becoming O’Neill’s fifth scalp. O’Neill angled in from around the wicket with the keeper up to the stumps to prevent Gilkes from batting outside his crease to negate the impeccable length. Gilkes edged to Will Sutherland at first slip to hand O’Neill his eighth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and bring his bowling average back under 21.Boland was more expensive than usual when he returned for his second spell of the day with Will Salzmann and Jack Edwards playing positively. After coming together at 96 for 6 they raced to a near run-a-ball 62-run stand. Boland looked visibly frustrated as they drove him on the up without much fear on a surface that had offered plenty of sideways movement.Salzmann finally paid a price on 33 when he didn’t offer a shot, trying to leave a good length delivery from Boland that nipped back sharply to clip the off bail.Edwards then ran out of partners to be left stranded on 33, as the last three batters, including injury substitute Charlie Stobo, fell for ducks with Boland claiming one of them while Mitchell Perry picked up the other two.Victoria were then cruising at 72 for 1, with a lead of 149, as Campbell Kellaway and Marcus Harris took control after the early loss of Dixon despite dark clouds lingering over Junction Oval for most of the afternoon.Kellaway played impressively to reach 47 while Harris rode his luck having been dropped by Gilkes off Nathan Lyon before tea. But his luck ran out on 20 off 80 balls when he cut Hatcher straight to backward point. Kellaway chopped Hatcher on not long after, three shy of a deserved fifty, before Ollie Peake was cleaned bowled through the gate two balls later attempting a loose flat-footed drive on the up.The umpires checked the light but allowed play to continue in the gloom. Handscomb then gloved Hadley to Gilkes attempting a pull shot. Three balls later the umpires sent the players off for bad light with Victoria only 170 in front with just five wickets in hand.

Following Glasgow Rangers’ humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge, the 49ers have reportedly opened talks to sign a Premier League forward.

Martin apologises to fans after "painful" defeat

The pressure is increasing on Russell Martin. Some may even say that things have already reached breaking point at Ibrox. The former Southampton boss is yet to win a game in the Scottish Premiership and saw his problems extended by a Club Brugge side in no mood to offer him some kind of mercy in Belgium.

Update shared from Rangers on Russell Martin's Ibrox future before Celtic

The 39-year-old is under huge pressure.

1

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 28, 2025

It was a disaster from the off for the Gers, who were instantly a man down when Max Aarons received his marching orders inside 10 minutes. An uphill battle was quickly made an impossible task and Club Brugge took full advantage, scoring five goals in the first half to take an 8-1 lead on aggregate before adding a sixth to hand Rangers an embarrassing 9-1 defeat.

Simply put, it could not have been worse for Martin, who could not hide his humiliation.

It doesn’t get any easier for those at Ibrox, either. A trip to face Old Firm rivals Celtic awaits this weekend in what may only compile Martin’s misery or perhaps even be the final nail in the coffin of what has been a nightmare stint in Scotland.

That said, the transfer window could still act as a crucial turning point for the Englishman amid reports that the 49ers are now “in talks” to sign a Premier League forward.

Rangers "in talks" to sign forward Chermiti

According to The Times’ Paul Joyce, the 49ers and Rangers are now “in talks” to sign Youssef Chermiti on loan from Everton this week with just days remaining of the window.

The young forward could replace Hamza Igamane, who is set to join LOSC Lille not long after refusing to come from the bench in the Gers’ last-gasp draw against St Mirren last weekend.

Replacing a talented forward like Igamane will be no easy task, but it appears that Chermiti has emerged as a leading candidate. Whilst the Everton forward has struggled with injuries during his time in the Premier League, there’s no denying that he’s still a player full of potential at 21 years old.

Praised as “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig during his time at Sporting Club, Chermiti is also represented by the same agent as Rangers’ summer arrival Thelo Aasgaard, which could make any deal far more routine.

Referee Maurizio Mariani has been stood down by a "furious" chief after his performance in the heated clash between Napoli and Inter. Mariani and his assistant are being punished for a "short circuit" call on a controversial penalty while also missing an "obvious" handball claim for Inter as Napoli ran out 3-1 winners against Christian Chivu's team.

• Major setback for the referee

  Mariani has been stood down from Serie A duties and faces a potential demotion to Serie B following a performance laden with "too serious errors" during Napoli's 3-1 victory over Inter on Saturday.

  According to a report from , Italian referee designator Gianluca Rocchi was left "furious" by the display at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and has immediately "stopped" both Mariani and his assistant, Daniele Bindoni, from officiating. The decision comes after a match defined by controversial penalty decisions that heavily influenced the outcome.

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• 'Short circuit' over late Napoli penalty call

  The primary incident that angered Rocchi was the controversial penalty awarded to Napoli in the 33rd minute. The report describes the contact as "very slight," noting that some on the refereeing panel considered it a non-penalty.

  However, the "short circuit" that proved fatal for the officiating team was procedural. Assistant referee Bindoni flagged for the foul eight seconds after the incident occurred, a delay that triggered the whistle. The report states that had Mariani called the foul immediately, the "perception" of the call would have been different, even if the contact was minimal.

  Rocchi is reportedly furious with the awarding of such "slight" penalties, which VAR rarely intervenes on as contact was present. Kevin De Bruyne converted the resulting spot-kick to give Napoli the lead.

• Getty Images
  

  Inter denied 'obvious' handball penalty

  Mariani's performance was further criticised for a crucial decision that went against Inter. The Nerazzurri were incensed after being denied what the report calls an "obvious" penalty for an outstretched arm by Napoli's Alessandro Buongiorno, which made contact with a touch from Lautaro Martínez.

  This missed call, combined with the "slight" penalty given against them, fuelled the post-match controversy and triggered the review from Rocchi's National Referees Commission (CAN).

  Inter also reportedly questioned Mariani's game management, specifically why Napoli’s Billy Gilmour was not penalised for a foul committed shortly after teammate Giovanni Di Lorenzo had been booked.

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• AFP
  

  What next for Mariani and officiating team?

  The consequences for the "too serious" errors were swift. Mariani, who had only refereed two Serie A matches this season after officiating the Under-20 World Cup final, has been removed from the schedule for the midweek round.

  He will also be sidelined for Matchday 10. The report indicates he may be reassigned to Serie B or moved to a VAR role for the time being. Assistant Bindoni has also been stood down and will not be included in the upcoming squad of officials.

  The move is part of a wider disciplinary action by Rocchi, who has also stood down referee Daniele Chiffi for significant errors in the Parma-Como match. Chiffi is also expected to be moved to a VAR role, so he can "understand what it means to be on the penalty line or out."

  The incidents overshadowed a crucial win for Napoli, who remain top of the Serie A table. After De Bruyne's opener, Inter equalised through a penalty of their own from Hakan Calhanoglu, but goals from Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa sealed the 3-1 win. Inter remain in fourth place.

Oshane Thomas concedes 33 runs in a ten-ball over (the 15th of the Amazon Warriors innings) – the most expensive figures by a St Lucia Kings bowler in the CPL

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2025

Ackeem Auguste played a blinder•CPL T20 via Getty Images

Twenty-one-year-old Ackeem Auguste enthralled the St Lucia Kings home fans, with his family members in attendance, by smashing 73 off just 35 balls which scripted their four-wicket win over Guyana Amazon Warriors in their CPL 2025 match on Tuesday.Kings’ lower order added the finishing touches in the chase of 203, sealed by captain David Wiese with 11 balls to spare, which helped them jump to second place, only one point behind Antigua and Barbuda Falcons with one game in hand. Only three points separate five out of the six teams now after Kings made it 3-0 over Warriors in their most recent contests. It was also the first time in the CPL that Amazon Warriors have scored 200-plus and lost, winning each of the last ten times they got there.After opting to bat, Amazon Warriors were given a blazing start by Ben McDermott before Keon Gaston had the two openers, Kevlon Anderson the other, caught by Tim David in the space of three balls in the fourth over. Moeen Ali then lost his middle stump to Khary Pierre for a duck in the next over and Amazon Warriors finished the powerplay on a precarious 44 for 3. The fall of Shimron Hetmyer, who had two fifties in his last three T20 knocks, added to their woes – he called for a second run in the seventh over, but his partner Shai Hope dropped his bat on the way; Hetmyer had to turn back to the striker’s end but his dive wasn’t enough.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

When Hope skewed one to mid-off after crawling to 23 off 27, Amazon Warriors were in real trouble at 78 for 5 in the 13th over. But the arrival of Romario Shepherd changed things straightaway as he smashed a six first ball before smoking three more in a row against the same bowler – Oshane Thomas – in what was a disastrous over for Amazon Warriors. After being hit for a four on the second ball, Thomas overstepped, and followed that with a wide, which kept the Free Hit in place, and Shepherd walloped him for two sixes on the leg side, which also turned out to be no-balls, and kept the Free Hits coming. Thomas finally delivered a legal delivery, and Shepherd lined him up for a 95-metre six. Iftikhar Ahmed ended the over with another six to make it 33 from the over. Thomas eventually finished with 4-0-63-1. These are the most expensive figures by a Kings bowler in the CPL, going past Wahab Riaz’s 3-0-61-0 from CPL 2021.Warriors’ run rate had shot up from 6.78 to 8.53 now with five overs to go. Wiese conceded only 18 from his last two but Shepherd went after Gaston for a 27-run over with two fours and two sixes, along with six wides in it. Gaston got the last over too and a wide after three balls might have sent shivers through the Kings dugout, but he ended things nicely with just three runs off the last three. Warriors had posted 202 thanks to Shepherd’s 23-ball fifty that was studded with seven sixes, and Gaston’s night ended with 4-0-57-2.Johnson Charles and Tim Seifert started things nicely in the chase and even though Charles fell in the second over, Seifert and Auguste joined hands to power them to 86 in the powerplay by taking on Jediah Blades, Moeen and Imran Tahir.Motie and Tahir slowed things down by conceding just 25 in the next four while Auguste got his maiden CPL fifty, the fastest of this season overall, off only 19 balls. Tahir and Motie pegged Kings back with the wickets of Seifert and Chase, although they needed a comfortable 67 from the last 48 balls. Auguste soon holed out for 73 off 35 before Aaron Jones and David brought the asking rate under six an over. David and Jones also fell towards the end before consecutive boundaries from Pierre and Wiese finished things off.

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2015Bangladesh opted to bat, but Mirwais Ashraf kept the runs down and dismissed Tamim Iqbal for 19 off 42 balls•Getty ImagesShapoor Zadran dented Bangladesh further when he had Soumya Sarkar trapped lbw and Mahmudullah caught behind•Getty ImagesShakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim steadied the innings with a 114-run fifth-wicket stand•Getty ImagesBangladesh’s lower order didn’t last long as their last five wickets could only add 34 runs. They were all out for 267•Getty ImagesBut Bangladesh’s pacers floored Afghanistan, who were reduced them to 3 for 3 in the third over•Getty ImagesMashrafe Mortaza picked up three wickets and kept the Afghanistan middle order from settling into a rhythm•Getty ImagesAfghanistan managed to make a slow recovery with a 62-run fourth-wicket stand which ended with Samiullah Shenwari’s run out•Getty ImagesBangladesh pressed that advantage further and beat Afghanistan by 105 runs, their biggest win in the World Cups•AFP

Everton enter the new Premier League season with a clear priority: finding a dynamic winger capable of slotting straight into David Moyes’ starting lineup.

The club’s summer so far has been a mix of arrivals and departures as Moyes attempts to reshape the squad after a campaign that saw the team rise to mid-table after a tough start.

Already this summer, Everton have strengthened multiple positions.

Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers has arrived to act as a back-up to England No.1 Jordan Pickford, while Carlos Alcaraz’s loan from Flamengo was made permanent.

Forward Thierno Barry joins with the potential to develop into a key attacking contributor.

However, undoubtedly the most high-profile arrival is Jack Grealish, the England international acquired on loan from Manchester City, whose creativity could immediately influence games at Goodison Park.

Everton assessing Dibling alternative

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucouré, and Ashley Young have all departed on free transfers after their contracts expired, leaving gaps in the squad that need addressing.

This, coupled with Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom returning to their parent clubs, leaves the wide areas somewhat thin.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

This has made Moyes’ pursuit of a new wide attacker an urgent priority, especially one capable of taking defenders on, creating scoring opportunities, and contributing goals himself.

According to BBC Reporter Giulia Bould, Everton are “now looking” at 21-year-old England U21 international Omari Hutchinson, following their unsuccessful pursuit of Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.

Hutchinson, described by Chelsea insider Felix Johnstone as a “special talent,” made 31 Premier League appearances last season, scoring three goals and registering two assists in 2,593 minutes of action.

Hutchinson moved to Ipswich on a permanent deal in 2024 for around £20m and has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young attacking talents in England, now valued at £35m by his club.

Capped ten times at U21 level, he was part of the England squad that won a second consecutive U21 European Championship in Slovakia, highlighting his pedigree on the international stage.

This interest in Hutchinson comes after Everton’s protracted and ultimately stalled negotiations with Southampton over Tyler Dibling.

The 19-year-old English winger, highly rated for his ability to take defenders on and create opportunities, has attracted attention from Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich.

Southampton’s valuation of £45m plus £5m in add-ons and a 25% sell-on clause, however, has proven prohibitive.

Dibling has been training away from the first team and is expected to hold talks with the club regarding his future imminently.

Hutchinson provides Everton with a potential alternative who offers many of the same attributes that made Dibling so appealing.

Comparing the two: Dibling vs Hutchinson

Versatile across multiple positions, Hutchinson combines technical ability and creativity, making him a constant threat.

Statistically, Dibling and Hutchinson offer intriguing points of comparison.

While both operate primarily as wingers, their playing profiles differ slightly.

Dibling is more defensively engaged, drawing 2.44 fouls per 90 minutes compared to Hutchinson’s 1.54 and recording more tackles in the midfield third (0.91 versus 0.56).

He also successfully tackles a higher percentage of dribblers (63% versus 28.7%) and blocks more shots per 90 minutes (0.24 versus 0.09).

These numbers suggest a player more willing to contribute defensively, capable of pressing and disrupting opposition attacks.

Hutchinson, in contrast, shows a slightly stronger attacking output in certain areas.

He attempts 4.77 take-ons per 90 minutes, completing 1.89, compared with Dibling’s 5.36 attempts and 2.20 successes.

While Dibling may be more aggressive in duels, Hutchinson’s dribbling style is composed and creative, often unlocking defences with skilful movement rather than sheer physicality.

He brings vision and a sharp understanding of space, traits that could complement Everton’s midfield and forward lines.

Beyond the statistics, both players offer flexibility.

Hutchinson’s ability to operate on either wing, as an inverted winger or in more central attacking roles, mirrors Dibling’s versatility and makes him a valuable asset in Moyes’ tactical system.

Everton’s desire for a winger capable of contributing immediately, both in terms of goals and creativity, makes Hutchinson a compelling alternative after the club’s inability to secure Dibling.

Ultimately, Everton appear to have identified Hutchinson as a player who combines, albeit limited Premier League experience, youth international credentials, and attacking quality within a budget-friendly framework.

With departures leaving the wide areas depleted, Moyes’ pursuit of a winger who can replicate Dibling’s potential impact is logical, offering the team a creative spark capable of changing games in the early stages of the season.

Everton’s opening fixture against Leeds at Elland Road offers an early opportunity for Moyes to integrate any new wide attacker and immediately benefit from a player capable of stretching defences, creating chances, and contributing directly to goals.

As the transfer window continues, Hutchinson’s arrival could signal Everton’s intent to compete more aggressively, restore attacking dynamism, and provide Moyes with the tactical options required to challenge for higher Premier League positions.

Better move than Grealish: Everton looking to sign "unstoppable" £17m CF

As Everton look to bolster their forward options, with Jack Grealish potentially on his way, the Toffees could also sign an “unstoppable” £17m striker

By
Ben Gray

Aug 11, 2025