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Aston Villa are now very interested in signing a £41m striker this summer to replace Jhon Duran, according to a report.

Duran seals big-money move to Saudi Arabia

Duran had been enjoying a breakout season for Villa, making a name for himself with goals in the Premier League and Champions League, but the 21-year-old’s time in the Midlands was short-lived, signing for Al-Nassr for a fee of £71m last month.

With the move taking place late in the January transfer window, Unai Emery was short on time to bring in a like-for-like replacement, but the manager did manage to strengthen his attacking options in a more general sense during the winter window.

Donyell Malen was brought in from Borussia Dortmund, while Marcus Rashford arrived on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season, but there have already been suggestions the Englishman is still eyeing a summer move to Barcelona.

Emery now working on deal for £116k-p/w star who's "perfect for Aston Villa

Former scout Mick Brown believes moves are being made to sign an “unbelievable” player on a permanent basis.

ByDominic Lund Feb 19, 2025

As such, Emery may have to bring in another striker this summer, and a report from Spain has now revealed Aston Villa are very interested in signing FC Porto striker Samu Omorodion, following his impressive performances in Portugal (via Sport Witness).

Ollie Watkins is the only out-and-out striker at Emery’s disposal at present, meaning the manager wants to bring in a new option this summer, and the Villans are the main suitors for Omorodion from the Premier League.

The youngster is said to have similar characteristics to Duran, which would make him an ideal replacement for the Colombian, and the Liga Portugal side could be interested in doing a deal for around €50m (£41m).

Aston Villa’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (h)

February 22nd

Crystal Palace (a)

February 25th

Brentford (a)

March 8th

Brighton & Hove Albion (a)

April 1st

Nottingham Forest (h)

April 5th

Samu could be the perfect Duran replacement

The strikers are of a similar age, with the Porto “beast” slightly younger than Duran at 20-years-old, and the similarities don’t stop there. Most importantly, the Spaniard has a keen eye for goal, much like his potential predecessor, having scored 18 goals in 29 games in all competitions this season, including five in eight Europa League games.

The duo are also both impressive in the air, averaging a similar number of aerials won per 90 over the past year, with Omorodion placing in the 79th percentile and Duran ranking in the 81st.

Watkins is enjoying yet another impressive season with the Villans, taking his Premier League goal tally to 12 for the season after scoring in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool last night.

However, if the 29-year-old were to pick up an injury, Emery would be without an out-and-out striker to replace him, so it is important a new young forward is brought in this summer, and Omorodion has proven he could be up to the task.

Ben Foakes says Championship defence “far from over” despite eighth win of season

Vithushan Ehantharajah05-Sep-2023

How’s that for ruthless? By 10.45am on day three, Surrey had sewn up victory over Warwickshire by an innings and 97 runs. The three remaining wickets taking so little time people were still coming through the gates as the players were lining up to shake hands.The brunt of the work had been done on day two, with 17 Warwickshire wickets meaning Tuesday’s ask was a formality, which it proved to be. An eighth win of the season means Surrey will carry a lead of at least 18 points over challengers Essex into their penultimate match of the season against Northamptonshire. And with all due respect to the side bottom of Division One, it has all the makings of a repeat of 2022’s season finale. Victory over Yorkshire in their penultimate game confirmed Championship glory, and history looks set to repeat itself.An early finish was assisted by an unnecessarily early start when Dan Worrall sent down the first of 24 deliveries at 10.28am. His fifth, catching Henry Brookes’ edge and flying to Jamie Overton at second slip, came at the scheduled start time of 10.30am, adding to the sense Surrey were so far ahead in this match they were making up time.Worrall bagged a third five-wicket haul of the season in the following over from the Vauxhall End, decking one across Dan Mousley, the only batter to emerge with true credit in a dire Warwickshire second innings with a valiant 60. Jordan Clark then skittled Chris Rushworth to at least give their opponents time to enjoy the sunshine before heading back to Birmingham ahead of rush hour.”Quite a few guys are going on holiday, so it’s nice that this finishes early because they’ve got a 4am leave for the airport the day after the game [Thursday], which is handy,” Ben Foakes said, slightly tongue-in-cheek. Surrey have the next round off, as do second-placed Essex, meaning there will be little to worry about back home. Nevertheless, it seems odd the players would have cut it so fine with flight times, though perhaps they are just used to clocking off early by now. After all, this was their fourth victory of the season notched in three days, and this one could have been done in two.”There’s still a lot of cricket and Essex are a serious side,” said Foakes, whose 125, his third century of the season, helped Surrey to a surprisingly insurmountable first innings of 396. “They’re probably more than likely to win their home games and they’re always going to be on our tail. It’s far from over.”It’s an annoying quirk of the schedule that the frontrunners will only play each other once this season, which is also how it panned out with Surrey’s closest challengers last summer, Hampshire. Even from afar, beyond their rain-affected draw in May, Surrey’s seam against Essex’s spin has been an intriguing battle of styles on their respective home patches.As such, it was fitting both Worrall and Clark, two signings who have bedded into the club seamlessly, would finish things off and in turn find themselves both on 46 dismissals this season. Together with the returning Kemar Roach, who finished with five in the match, Rory Burns admitted captaincy has rarely been easier. His only moment of doubt came when he feared the hosts might have let Warwickshire off the hook after losing their final six batters for 53.”I think we were expecting the pitch to get even better for batting as the game went on, over the four days, and having had to bat first after losing the toss – I certainly didn’t expect what happened yesterday, but it’s pretty easy for me as captain when I’ve got a bowling attack as good as ours,” Burns said.”It was good to have Kemar [Roach] back and Dan [Worrall] was exceptional. He’s a real leader out there and a brilliant bowler with many skills. But I thought Jordan [Clark] also put in a really good performance in this match and there is a lot of excitement in this group about what is to come in the next few weeks.”For Warwickshire, such a chastening defeat requires perspective given the injuries to two first-choice batters (Rob Yates and Alex Davies), and the unavailability of Jacob Bethell and Liam Norwell. While their absences were covered, with Kraigg Brathwaite parachuting in for the final month of the season, the end result, if not the performance, had some mitigation. After staying up by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the 2022 season, they will take mid-table mediocrity.”Dan Worrall was outstanding throughout the match and Jordan Clark too bowled extremely well but we came into this match a little bit light due to injuries and unavailability,” head coach, Mark Robinson, said. “Kraigg Brathwaite only arrived [from the West Indies} the day before this game, Ed Barnard had never batted at No. 3 before and Chris Benjamin has not had that much cricket in this format recently. But none of that is an excuse because we should be better than we have been. We still should have had more quality as a team than we showed here.”By stark contrast, Surrey did not even have to put their new signing Sai Sudharsan into action despite a handful of their players away on England duty. His time will come with Jamie Smith due to play in the ODI series against Ireland at the end of September. The keeper-batter’s call-up will be to rest those on their way to the World Cup, which includes the Surrey trio of Jason Roy, Sam Curran and Gus Atkinson.

MatériaMais Notícias

da betsul： O São Paulo encerra sua temporada no próximo domingo (13), contra o Goiás, mas com uma longa lista de desfalques, entre eles, Patrick e André Anderson, que estarão cumprindo suspensão.

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Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro e simule os próximos jogos

Na derrota contra o Internacional, na última terça-feira (8), André Anderson entrou em campo no segundo tempo e, em segundos, levou um cartão amarelo. Como estava pendurado, não enfrentará o Goiás. O mesmo acontece com Patrick, que segue rodeado de polêmicas nos últimos tempos por conta de desavenças com o treinador Rogério Ceni.

Já Ferraresi, foi punido pelo Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) por conta da sua expulsão no clássico do Tricolor contra o Palmeiras, pela 32ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Na ocasião, Ferraresi atingiu o rosto de Danilo e foi expulso pelo árbitro nos minutos finais do primeiro tempo.

Denunciado pelo artigo 254-A, inciso I do Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva, que prevê a punição por agressão física de forma dolosa, assumindo o risco de dano e lesão, o defensor terá que cumprir um jogo de suspensão. Assim, não poderá estar em campo contra o Goiás, e consequentemente, não jogará mais neste ano.

Além destes, o São Paulo enfrenta um sério problema que acompanhou a equipe por quase toda temporada, relacionado ao departamento médico, que em pouquíssimas vezes este ano se esvaziou.

Atualmente, são dez lesionados e um convocado. Arboleda, que não atua desde junho por conta de uma fratura e uma ruptura de ligamentos no tornozelo, viajou na última semana para o Equador, com a expectativa de defender a seleção na Copa do Mundo.

As crias de Cotia Caio e Moreira seguem em recuperação das suas respectivas cirurgias. Andrés Colorado, Alisson, Diego Costa, Nikão, Eder, Rodriguinho e Igor Vinícius também estão em tratamento. O veterano Miranda cuida de umalesão no ligamento colateral medial do joelho esquerdo, mas seu futuro na próxima temporada é um dos mais incertos.

Miranda se lesionou em outubro, após deixar o último clássico contra o Palmeiras com dores. Desde os primeiros diagnósticos, já era certo que não voltaria mais a atuar neste ano. Falas recentes de Rogério Ceni e situações relacionadas a contrato deram a entender que o zagueiro não fique no São Paulo para a próxima temporada.

O contrato do defensor se encerra no final deste ano. Na última coletiva de imprensa de Ceni, portanto, o treinador falou de Miranda já com um tom de despedida.

– Miranda é uma situação atípica. É um vencedor, ganhou muito pelo clube, sofreu uma lesão no final desta temporada, está se recuperando… Merecidamente tem um salário mais alto. Mas eu acho que a situação dele é difícil de continuar, mesmo com toda amizade, eu acho que dentro dessa situação de remodelação financeira do clube foge um pouco do que se pretende. É um posicionamento que a gente tem que tomar – disse.

Se não houver nenhum retorno até domingo (13), São Paulo encerrará a temporada com 14 desfalques.

England captain named Player of the Match after putting himself through 24 overs in India’s second innings at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-20252:32

Stokes: I was going to decide when I stop bowling

Ben Stokes, England’s captain, admitted he had taken himself to some “dark places” with his bowling workloads but said “nothing was stopping” him as he embarked on two lengthy spells to help drag his side to a 22-run victory over India on the final day at Lord’s.Stokes was named Player of the Match after taking five wickets across 44 overs – the third-most he has bowled in a Test, and the most since 2019 – to go with innings of 44 and 33 with the bat, as well as the crucial run-out of Rishabh Pant in India’s first innings.On the third evening, he received an instruction from England’s head coach, Brendon McCullum, to call it quits after a seven-over spell, with the team management still wary about protecting Stokes’ fitness after hamstring surgery over the winter.Related

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But he again pushed his body to the limit on Monday, resuming his over from the previous evening and bowling a further 9.2 overs during the morning, which included the wicket of India opener KL Rahul. He followed up with a ten-over spell after lunch, eventually dislodging Jasprit Bumrah after a dogged 35-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja for the ninth wicket, as England sought to confirm victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.The Lord’s Test was also the second of back-to-back matches, with just a three-day turnaround from India’s win at Edgbaston, where Stokes bowled 26 overs. In the first Test, at Headingley, he sent down 35 overs and spoke afterwards about how hard it was to recover.”I have taken myself to some pretty dark places before. Today was… but look, bowling to win a Test match, if that doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what does,” he said, speaking to Sky Sports at the post-match presentation.”With what today was, what was on the line. Yesterday [Saturday] was a bit different. You know, there was still more cricket to be played. And, you know, pulled myself off there. I mean, to be honest, I was absolutely cooked [on day three] as well. But again, today, you know, game was on the line. Nothing was stopping me [carrying on].”Ben Stokes appeals for KL Rahul’s wicket•Getty ImagesAlthough Stokes hinted at a return to form with the bat, Lord’s extended his run without a Test fifty to ten innings. He is now averaging 29.18 in 20 Tests since his last hundred, at Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes, but said that his ability to impact games with the ball meant he had little time to dwell on his batting returns.”I’m an allrounder. I get four opportunities in a Test match to be able to influence the game. And one of the great things about being an allrounder is that if one thing doesn’t quite click, you’ve got an opportunity with the other. And that’s how I look at it.”Obviously, I would like to be scoring more runs at the moment, but as soon as I’ve got my whites on out there on the field, all my thoughts flip over to bowling. And that’s the great thing about being an allrounder, that you don’t really have a chance to sort of worry about anything. And everyone knows, I’ll always put in as much as I possibly can.”Jofra Archer took two crucial wickets in his opening spell•Getty ImagesStokes offered particular praise for Jofra Archer, playing in his first Test since 2021. Archer claimed match figures of 5 for 105 in a display of sustained hostility that regularly pushed the speed gun above 90mph/145kph. On day five, six years on from his heroics in the ODI World Cup final, he made the first breakthrough with the key wicket of Pant, and Stokes said he had backed Archer to do something special.”Yeah, part of the reason I went with Jof this morning, six years ago now to the day. He played a major role and I had a feeling he’d do something special and crack the game open. A bit of discussion, Brydon [Carse] had an amazing spell [last night], but I had a gut feeling that Jof’s going to do something in his first game back.”Speaking afterwards to Sky, Archer said that the long periods he experienced in rehab due to back and elbow problems between 2021 and 2024 were made all the more worthwhile by the taste of victory at Lord’s.As well as his involvement in the World Cup final, when he bowled the Super Over as England’s men lifted the trophy for the first time, Archer made his Test debut on the ground during the 2019 Ashes. However, he had not played a Test since February 2021 before his comeback against India, enduring a four-year absence from red-ball cricket while road-testing his body in the limited-overs formats.0:55

Manjrekar: Stokes always makes things happen

“I only played one other Test at Lord’s, but you know, the last one was just as special as this one,” Archer said. “A lot of rehab, a lot of training, but it’s moments like this that make everything worth it.”I feel the hardest part is playing cricket for the last year-and-a-half and then still having training, talking about workloads, and ‘bowl today, don’t bowl tomorrow’, stuff like that. That would probably be the hardest part, because some days you think that you’re ready, but you never know if you’re ready or not until you do it. But the safer way is the best way. So I’m not too fussed. This surely, surely is worth it.”On day two, Archer struck with his third ball on returning to the Test side, having India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal caught at second slip, and celebrated by sprinting away to square leg, where he was enveloped by his team-mates.”Guess I was a little bit emotional,” he said. “It was a long journey. I can’t tell you the amount of keyboard warriors that I had to put up with for the last three to four years as well. I told myself that I was going to try my best not to be [emotional] and when [Jaiswal] nicked it, and it went to Brooky [Harry Brook], I think all of that just went through the window. The joy, the whole crowd, the Long Room yesterday, I’ve never seen it like that ever in my life. So it’s just moments like this that made the rehab all so much worth it.”Archer also revealed what was behind his send-off for Pant on the final day, having removed the batter’s off stump from the ground. “It wasn’t a proud moment,” he said. “I just told him to charge that. Honestly, this morning, I was struggling a little bit, the ball just kept coming out full. One of the full ones, he just charged, and it p****d me off a bit. When the [wicket] ball nipped down the slope, honestly I was so grateful for that.”

Liverpool won the 2024/25 Premier League and are now moving to secure their place among Europe’s elite for the coming years, making sweeping changes in the transfer market.

A momentous effort to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz looks to be coming to a pleasing head, but the negotiations are still ongoing. Liverpool’s latest offer totals £113m, but the Bundesliga side are holding out for what would be a British-record £126m fee.

With moves for full-back pairing Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez already wrapped up, the Reds are surely set to continue competing for the biggest prizes in Arne Slot’s system.

However, there’s still something missing and no mistake. Well, while Liverpool have options at centre-forward in Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, neither really cut the mustard last term, and both could be sold.

Liverpool aren’t prioritising the frontman position at the moment, but they are surveying the market and have been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Liverpool's interest in Viktor Gyokeres

With Arsenal “advancing in negotiations” for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, says Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool could have a free shot at Gyokeres this summer, having opened talks for the forward last month.

The Sweden striker has been breathtaking over his two campaigns in Portugal, scoring 97 goals and providing 28 assists across just 102 matches, winning back-to-back Liga Portugal titles.

Regarded as “the best finisher in the world” by data analyst Spencer Hossman, you can see why Liverpool are keen, for the 27-year-old is levels above Nunez and Jota.

However, recent reports suggest Manchester United may be set to win the race, ready to pay a £60m fee for the goalscorer.

Every case is different, but some fans might reserve judgment on this one, for Nunez posted 34 goals from 41 matches in 2021/22, playing for Benfica in Portugal.

The Iberian country is not on the same level as the Premier League, and that’s a fact. If Liverpool were to sign a striker from their own division, one already proven as a world-class option on English shores

Liverpool still in for PL striker

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still dreaming of signing Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak this summer, despite The Athletic’s David Ornstein previously declaring there would be “no chance” that the Sweden international leaves after United qualified for the Champions League.

It’s understood that upcoming contract talks will have a significant bearing on Isak’s stance, but if he were to leave this summer, Newcastle would be looking to bank a figure reaching as high as £150m.

Sky Sports’ Keith McDownie has claimed that while Newcastle are hopeful they can retain their talisman this summer, Isak is ambitious and does appear to view a transfer away at some stage.

What Alexander Isak would bring to Liverpool

What would Isak bring to Liverpool? In short, goals, and lots of them.

The 25-year-old has been a revelation at St. James’ Park since signing for a club-record £63m fee in 2022, departing Real Sociedad.

Across his three campaigns on Tyneside, Isak has scored 62 goals and laid on 11 assists across 109 matches, hitting his most confident stride over the past year, scoring 27 times as the Magpies flew back onto Europe’s elite stage, and indeed bagging against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.

But it’s not just the numbers, instead the remarkable range of skills that Isak brings to the table. Slot has showed through his maiden year at Anfield that he likes offensive players who operate dynamically, not just firing at goal but creating and linking up with teammates.

He’s a deadly marksman, hailed as a “world-class assassin” by pundit Alan Shearer, but Isak is indeed far more than a simple goalscorer, finishing the chances created by his peers.

Indeed, he’s one of the most complete out there. As per FBref, Isak ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

You can see why he’s so coveted across the continent. Isak is the very definition of world-class, bringing so many dynamic attacking qualities to the table.

His tried-and-tested consistency in the Premier League bespeaks his suitability for Liverpool, and he’s two years younger than Gyokeres besides.

Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson even went as far as to coin Isak “the best striker in the world.” The one-time Newcastle man acknowledged his bias, but in fairness, Isak has showcased his skills to such a level that that claim isn’t without substance.

Ultimately, both Isak and Gyokeres would improve Slot’s Liverpool system if they were added into the ranks, but if fans were quizzed on their ideal option to don the striker’s shirt, Isak would win overwhelmingly.

After such a prolific and robust campaign for Eddie Howe’s side, Isak has proven himself one of the best of his generation, especially since his athleticism appears to have taken a leap forward, avoiding any impactful injury that plagued him through previous seasons at Newcastle and in Spain.

Liverpool are dreaming of completing this staggering signing, and if they play their cards right, the pieces might just fall into place.

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1

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Nottingham Forest have the ‘strongest’ interest in a midfielder who’s been compared to Aston Villa star John McGinn, with Evangelos Marinakis expecting offers for Elliot Anderson.

Elliot Anderson shining for Forest with £100m price mooted

Anderson has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most impressive midfielders this season, with Forest reportedly setting a £100 million asking price to deter potential suitors during January.

The 23-year-old has transformed into one of England’s most complete central midfielders since his £35 million arrival from Newcastle in July 2024.

His exceptional form also convinced Thomas Tuchel to hand him a senior international debut in August, with the Three Lions manager subsequently praising him as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.”

Anderson featured heavily during Forest’s fairytale seventh-placed finish last campaign, making 37 Premier League appearances whilst scoring two goals and registering six assists.

However, his development has accelerated dramatically throughout 25/26, establishing himself as Sean Dyche’s most influential player whilst earning recognition among Europe’s elite midfield talents.

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Forest have slapped a £100 million price tag on the latter’s head amid growing interest.

ByEmilio Galantini 5 days ago

Man City have emerged as Anderson’s preferred destination should he depart the City Ground, though Man United and Liverpool are apparently monitoring developments closely as well.

Pep Guardiola views him as an ideal long-term successor to Rodri, who is currently suffering from another injury setback which threatens to derail his mission to return to Ballon d’Or winning form.

Reports suggest that Forest are already making enquiries for potential Anderson replacements as interest grows in his signature grows, and this is backed up by The Mail’s Simon Jones.

Nottingham Forest make approach for Hibernian star Josh Mulligan

According to their information, Forest have emerged as frontrunners in the race for Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan, with Dyche’s side making initial enquiries ahead of a potential January move.

The Scotland international has impressed since arriving at Easter Road during the summer on a free transfer from Dundee, featuring in all 24 of their competitive matches whilst chipping in with three goals and three assists.

Mulligan, who The Mail report has been compared to McGinn for his tenacious style of play, was lavished with praise by Hibs boss David Gray following the Edinburgh side’s 3-0 win over Falkirk last weekend.

Steve Clarke recently called Mulligan into Scotland’s World Cup qualifying squad, challenging him to become a leader at club level.

With the 2026 tournament approaching and the Tartan Army qualified, regular Premier League football would significantly enhance his international prospects.

Hibernian secured Mulligan on a four-year contract and will demand substantial compensation before considering any mid-season departure.

Forest’s Europa League participation provides additional motivation for strengthening squad depth during the January window, with the Tricky Trees also expecting offers for Anderson next year.

The big takeaways from the ICC’s new men’s Future Tour Programme from 2023 to 2027

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Aug-2022
More international cricket on the menu
Even as new franchise T20 leagues sprout up like mushrooms during the monsoon – the South African and UAE variety will debut in January – the ICC’s new FTP contains an increased number of international matches during the 2023-27 cycle. From 694 matches in the current FTP (2019-23), the 12 Full Members will play 777 international matches – 173 Tests, 281 ODIs and 323 T20Is – in the next four-year period. And that’s not counting ICC tournaments, of which there is one every year (for the first time since the 2011-2015 FTP). Expect the country-versus-franchise debate to get much louder.More Tests, but not everyone
There are more Tests scheduled in this new FTP- 21 more in fact – than between 2019-23. But if you dig a little deeper that’s not necessarily cause for optimism for those worried about Test cricket’s health. Four of the nine countries that play the World Test Championship (WTC) are playing fewer Tests (England play six fewer Tests); if South Africa’s Test series with Australia had not been cancelled, they too would be playing less of the longest format in the new cycle. The big jump in the number of Tests in the FTP has come in large part from a big increase in the number of Tests that Afghanistan are scheduled to play (see below).Related

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Bangladesh get busy
Who’s playing the most games in the new FTP? Not India or England, but Bangladesh. They have a whopping 150 bilateral international matches in the next four-year cycle. While there’s a growing murmur about the point of ODIs, Bangladesh are giving the 50-over format the most love by playing 59 matches. They’re also just behind the Big Three in the number of Tests (34).South Africa taking it easy?
On the other end of the busyness scale, you’ve got South Africa, who are playing only 113 bilateral internationals in the new FTP. That’s more than only Ireland and Zimbabwe. South Africa’s schedule contains the second-fewest T20Is (46), the fewest ODIs (39), and fewer Tests (28) than Bangladesh and New Zealand. In fact, in the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, South Africa are not playing any series longer than two Tests (and they are currently top of that table and potential finalists). One reason for this could be that Cricket South Africa want to keep its international players completely free to play its new T20 League in January, and then there’s the two-and-a-half month IPL window, during which a lot of the top South African players will be in India.ESPNcricinfo LtdT20 windows for everyone
Another feature of this FTP is the number of windows that have been created for the T20 leagues of different countries. The biggest one is for the IPL. There is very little international cricket scheduled from the middle of March to the end of May between 2023 and 2027, so that the top players from all countries – minus Pakistan – can take part in the IPL. Other countries have different types of windows for their leagues. Australia have tried to minimise white-ball games in their traditional January slot so their own elite players can play the BBL; Bangladesh have kept each January free for the BPL; the ECB has a small window for the Hundred in August; CSA are doing likewise for their league; the PSL shifts its windows but has one every year; the CPL has August-September.Bad news for ODIs?
The T20 revolution only really took off once India embraced the shortest format with open arms after their victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup. So what does it mean for ODIs if 50-over cricket seems to be India’s least favoured format in the new FTP? India are playing only 42 ODIs in the 2023-27 FTP cycle, the second-fewest among the 12 Full Members, and they aren’t playing any series longer than three ODIs.More games between the Big Three
India, England and Australia will also see more of each other in the new FTP than they did in the current one. They had a total of 65 internationals – 27 Tests, 21 ODIs and 17 T20Is – scheduled between 2019 and 2023. In the next four-year cycle, they are down to play a total of 78 games: 30 Tests, 20 ODIs and 28 T20 internationals.Afghanistan’s Test revolution
Since their Test debut in India in 2018, Afghanistan have only played a total of six matches so far. They have got 21 scheduled in this next cycle, one more than Zimbabwe and only four less than Sri Lanka. It remains to be seen, though, how many of these 21 actually get played.

Newcastle United are preparing for a return to the Champions League stage under Eddie Howe and could now be set to lodge a bid to complete a bargain deal on Tyneside, according to reports.

Newcastle United prepare for a summer of change

The Magpies sit at an advantage to some of their Premier League rivals when it comes to their financial health. However, PSR regulations could be a frustrating factor in their ability to solicit business.

Speaking about their potential activity, finance expert Kieran Maguire understands why the Magpies may feel short-changed by the rules and the course of action they have taken since falling into play.

He explained: “City, Chelsea and PSG got in before those rules changed. We now have clubs like Newcastle, Villa and Nottingham Forest, who are ambitious and aspirational. They want to move to the next level. The owners are willing to fund that move to the next level, but the cost control measures prevent them from doing so.

“It’s a function of time. Some clubs were on the right side of the divide when the rules were introduced, but we have since seen clubs become very frustrated.”

Either way, Howe is keen on strengthening his forward line having already signed youngster Antonio Cordero, and Porto forward Samu Aghehowa may be on his way to Newcastle amid his £82.5 million release clause.

"I've been told" – Crystal Palace could receive "reliable" Newcastle player in Guehi swap

The Eagles could get a player in return.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 11, 2025

Central defender Evan Ndicka could also move to the North East from Roma if reports are to be believed in a swoop that would see a priority position strengthened for Howe.

Strength in depth is needed to adequately handle both domestic and European endeavours, so it won’t come as any surprise to hear that Newcastle are probing for another option that could add to their rearguard.

Newcastle open negotiations to sign Nordi Mukiele

Africa Foot claim Newcastle have opened negotiations to sign Nordi Mukiele from Paris Saint-Germain and have kicked things off with an offer in the region of £12.7 million for the France international.

The Champions League holders don’t see the 27-year-old as a major part of their future plans, which is reflected in the fact he spent the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and registered two goals and one assist in 24 matches.

Five similar players to Nordi Mukiele (FBRef)

Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City

Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal

Diogo Dalot

Manchester United

Thomas Meunier

Lille

Nicolas Tagliafico

Lyon

Earning around £113,000 per week at his parent club, versatile defender Mukiele won 80% of his attempted tackles in the Bundesliga last term either in central defence or on the right-hand side of Xabi Alonso’s backline.

Now back at his parent club, he finds himself at a career crossroads amid Paris Saint-Germain’s excellent position in the world of football, but he will have plenty of interested suitors ready to offer him a new challenge, including Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Everton, Aston Villa and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Newcastle are likely to be at the front of that queue due to their upward trajectory, meaning it is now over to Howe and company to push a deal through.

Century stand between second-wicket pair puts Essex on front foot before rain arrives

ECB Reporters Network26-Sep-2024

An unbeaten century second-wicket stand between Dean Elgar and Tom Westley before the rains came brought champions Surrey back down to earth after their week-long celebrations.Surrey completed their third successive Vitality County Championship win in their last game against Durham but were on the back foot during the 28-and-a-half overs possible until persistent heavy rain drove the players off the pitch nine minutes before lunch. By that time, Essex, who won the toss, had reached 116 for 1 with Elgar and Westley hitting an under-strength Surrey attack to all corners of Chelmsford in a stand worth 112 in 26 overs.Westley had started circumspectly but accelerated the more the partnership became entrenched. He had 11 boundaries in his 52 from 78 balls. Elgar, who passed 1000 runs for the season during his 54 from 88 balls, had started brightly before handing the initiative to his captain.Play started promptly but only after groundstaff had started pumping 4500 litres of water off the playing area from 6.30am. The operation started all over again just as they were settling in for their lunch break with play called off for the day at 2.30pm.Under heavy clouds but with some sunshine interspersed, Essex got off to a disastrous start with Robin Das lasting just six balls before he hung his bat out to Tom Lawes and helped settle whatever nerves Josh Blake might have had behind the stumps. Blake, who posted an unbeaten century at Chelmsford in the Metro Bank Cup earlier in the summer, was one of three first-class debutants for Surrey, batsman Ollie Sykes and spinner Yousef Majid completing the triumvirate.Elgar dominated the first fifty of the stand with Westley contributing just 13 to that point. The South African took three boundaries off Kemar Roach early on, two of them driven crisply through the covers. His seventh four, flicked to fine leg off Dan Lawrence, took him to four figures in his first year at Essex; a single off James Taylor carried him past fifty for the ninth time this season.Westley, who passed 1000 runs for the first time in his career last season, accelerated as the clouds turned threatening and the rain approached. He reached his sixth fifty-plus score of the year – as well as passing 700 runs – shortly after the pair’s century stand had been marked.Westley’s half-century took 76 balls, two fewer than Elgar’s, with three of his 11 fours coming in a frenetic six-ball spell against Taylor and Lawrence that was followed two balls later by four leg byes. The best of some well-placed shots from the one-time England batter was a sharp pull backward of square off Taylor

Seventeen wickets fall on opening day as Glamorgan are thwarted after early dominance

ECB Reporters Network30-Jun-2024Marchant de Lange played a key role with bat and ball as Gloucestershire staged a spirited fightback on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship Second Division match against Glamorgan at Cheltenham.The larger-than-life South African scored 46 not out and shared in a record-breaking stand of 75 with Ajeet Singh Dale as the home side recovered from 88 for 8 at lunch to post 179 in their first innings. He then took 2 for 21 in six overs with the ball as Glamorgan subsided to 133 for 7 by the time bad light brought a premature close with 3.5 overs unused.Timm van der Gugten was the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers, returning season-best figures of 5 for 59 to justify skipper Sam Northeast’s decision to field first. But his efforts were matched by Gloucestershire overseas all-rounder Beau Webster, who produced a startling three-wicket burst in 12 balls on a day when 17 wickets fell.Kiran Carlson top-scored for Glamorgan with 37, but the Welsh county still trail by 46 runs with three first innings wicket remaining.Twice dismissed cheaply when suffering a chastening innings defeat at the hands of Yorkshire in Scarborough earlier in the week, Gloucestershire’s batsmen faced a test of nerve after being inserted on a green-tinged surface beneath cloud-laden skies. Although the pitch was initially low and slow and the new ball moved off the seam, there could be no mitigating circumstances to explain away an abject surrender that saw the home side go into lunch on 88 for 8, a parlous situation characterised by poor shot selection and execution.Cameron Bancroft set the tone in the very first over, edging van der Gugten’s second delivery behind to provide the first of five catches for wicketkeeper Chris Cooke. Ollie Price fell to the same bowler in identical fashion, pushing at a delivery that kept low and being caught at the wicket.Ben Charlesworth and skipper Graeme van Buuren succumbed cheaply to ill-advised leg-side shots as Dan Douthwaite produced an incisive five-over spell of 2 for 7 from the College Lawn end, while James Bracey missed an attempted leg-side glance and was bowled by a ball from Andy Gorvin that deflected off his pad and onto the stumps as Gloucestershire subsided to 49 for 5.Marnus Labuschagne came on to bowl seam up and afford the batsmen a period of respite, Miles Hammond and Webster adding 36 for the sixth wicket and hinting at a recovery. But the return of van der Gugten served to reinforce Welsh superiority, the overseas recruit removing Hammond lbw for 21 and then making a mess of Webster’s stumps when the Australian played down the wrong line to a ball that moved back into him. Labuschagne then had Zaman Akhter caught behind without scoring to give the home side food for thought during the interval.When Matt Taylor was comprehensively bowled by van der Gugten with the score on 104 shortly following the resumption, the end of the innings appeared to be in sight. But de Lange and Singh Dale had other ideas, the last wicket pair opening their shoulders to post a quickfire 50 in 47 balls and force Glamorgan’s seamers onto the back foot for the first time.By the time Singh Dale hoisted Mason Crane’s leg spin to long-on and departed for a 45-ball 32, he and de Lange had surpassed the 73 made by John Mortimore and Jack Davey in 1972, the previous highest last wicket partnership for Gloucestershire in matches against Glamorgan.Gloucestershire were grateful to the spirited de Lange, whose agricultural approach yielded an unbeaten 46 from 37 balls, with a quartet of fours and 2 sixes, and enlivened a hitherto subdued festival audience. It said a good deal about what had gone before, that these two were able to score more runs than the combined efforts of Gloucestershire’s top seven.Buoyed by the antics of their lower order, Gloucestershire kept plugging away with the ball end enjoyed no little success. Taylor had Eddie Byrom held at mid-on in the act of pulling, Akhter claimed the prized wicket of Labuschagne, who pulled to deep mid-wicket for 19, and de Lange induced Billy Root to edge a catch behind and depart for 21 as the visitors slipped to 59-3 in the 23rd over.Gloucestershire then passed up an opportunity to dismiss Carlson on 11, de Lange putting down a chance on the deep fine leg boundary off the bowling of Singh Dale. No matter. Webster more than made amends when removing Northeast and Cooke in the space of three deliveries in the 35th over to reduce the Welsh county to 104 for 5.Northeast contributed 19 in a stand of 45 for the fourth wicket with Carlson, only to then push at a length ball and offer a catch behind. Cooke fell in identical fashion and Douthwaite then succumbed to a leg-side strangle, caught at the wicket as Webster made further inroads to finish with 3 for 16 from eight overs.De Lange then struck a potentially crucial blow shortly before the close, persuading Carlson to send a top-edged hook down the throat of Hammond at deep fine leg and depart for a 62-ball 37 with Glamorgan still 54 behind.