After Australia finished on 474, India fought back with a century stand between Jaiswal and Kohli before they lost three wickets late on the second day

Andrew McGlashan27-Dec-2024

Yashasvi Jaiswal was distraught after being run-out•Getty Images

Stumps Local hero Scott Boland was part of a late surge by Australia on the second day in Melbourne as they took control of the fourth Test after Steven Smith set up an imposing total with his second hundred in consecutive matches. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli had responded with a century stand but both fell in a dramatic final half-an-hour to leave India with a mountain to climb.Jaiswal had moved into the 80s when he drove firmly to mid-on and set off for a run to which Kohli didn’t respond and there was no way to beat Pat Cummins’ throw. Two overs later, Boland found Kohli’s outside edge to send the MCG into raptures and, all of a sudden, hope of anything close to parity on first innings looked a long way off.To cap off Australia’s day, Boland had nightwatcher Akash Deep taken at leg gully with minutes remaining as India lost 3 for 6.Scott Boland got Virat Kohli’s edge not long before stumps•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

It was a day that started and ended badly for India. They were insipid in the field during the morning as Australia ransacked 143 runs off 27 overs with Smith, who went to his 34th Test century to be within 51 of reaching 10,000 Test runs, and Cummins combining to add 112 for the seventh wicket.Cummins then struck in his first over of India’s reply when Rohit Sharma, who had returned to the top of the order, spooned a short ball into the hands of mid-on to leave him with scores of 3, 6, 10 and 3 in the series and 155 runs at 11.07 in his last 14 innings. The talk of whether his Test career extends beyond Sydney is unlikely to abate. India were 51 for 2 at tea when Cummins added to his hall-of-fame wickets with a wonderful delivery to castle KL Rahul.But Jaiswal, who had yet to contribute in a first innings of this series having had problems against Mitchell Starc, provided encouragement for the masses of Indian support among a record second-day crowd of 85,147, while Kohli attempted to channel the form revival that has been shown by Smith in recent weeks.Steven Smith brought up his second straight Test century•Getty Images

As he had during the 161 in Perth, Jaiswal wasn’t afraid to take on the short ball with ramps over the slips and also drove handsomely down the ground. He launched Mitchell Marsh’s medium pace over long-on for six, and then cut Boland for a boundary to bring up the half-century and have sights on a hundred when his innings was brought to an abrupt end. It was Jaiswal’s call, but always looked a very tight run. Kohli barely moved from his crease. Cummins calmly threw the ball on the bounce to Carey, who was celebrating before he broke the stumps.Kohli, the day after being fined for his shoulder contact with Sam Konstas, wore a look of determination from the start of his innings. After a series of dismissals pushing at deliveries away from his body, Kohli left alone plenty as Australia’s quicks tried to tempt him, although he did unfurl one pristine cover drive. When Starc strayed on to the pads, Kohli flicked him powerfully through midwicket. Yet, ultimately, the channel outside off proved his downfall, and perhaps the effects of Jaiswal’s run out as well.Pat Cummins was peppered with a few short balls in the first hour but survived, and put up very important runs•AFP/Getty Images

Australia had resumed at 311 for 6 after an opening day headlined by the innings of Konstas, and they made positive progress from the start against an India side that appeared flat as nine runs came off the opening over. Jasprit Bumrah remained a threat – although Smith was able to hook him for the fourth six he conceded in the innings – but scoring was free elsewhere as the home side cantered along.Smith brought up his century with a pristine cover drive off Nitesh Kumar Reddy, and then took on the struggling Mohammed Siraj, who conceded more than five an over. It was as fluent as Smith had looked for a long time, perhaps even back to the halcyon days of 2019. The century stand with Cummins was raised in 21 overs with the Australia captain showing the danger he can provide when playing positively.Cummins was one short of a fourth Test fifty when he picked out long-off against Ravindra Jadeja, who also claimed Starc straight after lunch. Next over, Smith somehow dragged into his stumps when he charged at Akash Deep, edged on to his pads, and watched helplessly as the ball trickled back to dislodge the leg bail. But, with up to three innings remaining against India, he now has a good chance to reaching one of cricket’s rare summits before this series is done.

Tottenham Hotspur was once the home to numerous world-class forwards, but Thomas Frank won’t be able to call upon any of the former talents previously at the club.

Harry Kane will be remembered as one of the best attackers in the Lilywhites’ history, registering 280 goals during his spell in the first team, sitting at the top of their record goalscoring charts.

Gareth Bale was another talent who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his own spell in North London, producing numerous moments of magic that led to him scoring 72 times in over 200 outings.

Whilst both players brought in huge profits, leaving for a combined £168m, it has left the first-team with a lack of attacking quality over various stints in recent campaigns.

Frank will want to rectify such problems before the end of the summer window, with the Dane overseeing continuous work during the past few weeks.

Spurs’ hunt to land an Eze alternative this summer

Eberechi Eze has been one of the key targets for Spurs this summer, with their pursuit of the Englishman dragging out for the majority of the window.

However, despite agreeing a deal with Crystal Palace and the player himself, he won’t be moving to join the Lilywhites – subsequently accepting a proposal from Arsenal, with a medical planned for this weekend.

Missing out on such a talent will be a huge disappointment to the supporters, but the hierarchy have already moved on to other targets, in the form of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Lilywhites hierarchy made an approach to Unai Emery’s side over the last couple of days to understand further conditions around any move.

He also stated that a deal could be unlikely this window, especially considering his current outfit don’t want to sell him, but an £80m price tag has previously been mooted for his signature.

Why Spurs’ £80m target would be a better signing than Eze

James Maddison’s injury and Heung-min Son’s departure to join LAFC have left huge holes in the number ten and left-wing positions, something which Eze would’ve solved.

The 27-year-old often featured in both of the aforementioned roles at Selhurst Park last season, ending the 2024/25 Premier League campaign with 16 combined goals and assists.

He also scored the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City, helping the Eagles claim their first ever major trophy – leading to major interest from Frank’s side.

However, given his pending move to join the Gunners, Eze will always remain a case of what could’ve been after being strongly linked with Frank’s side during the summer window.

Despite missing out on the attacker’s signature, the hierarchy can’t rest on their laurels, needing to act quickly to secure an alternative – something which they’ve evidently done by plotting a deal for Rogers.

He would be a more expensive addition for the hierarchy, but one that can still develop further in the years ahead, with the former Manchester City youngster just 23 years old.

When comparing his stats to those of Eze from last season, the Villa star managed more combined goals and assists, but also notched numerous higher tallies with his underlying figures.

Rogers, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Eduardo Hagn, completed more passes into the final third and the opposition area per 90 – having the creative ability to provide others around him with constant opportunities.

He also notched more progressive carries per 90 and more carries into the opposition third, able to drive forward into dangerous areas – having the tools to set up a teammate or even find the net himself.

How Rogers & Eze compared in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Rogers

Eze

Games played

37

34

Goals & assists

18

16

Progressive carries

3.6

2.4

Progressive passes

3.6

3.3

Passes into the final third

2.1

1.7

Passes into the opposition box

1.6

1.3

Carries into the final third

2.1

1.6

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Aerials won

20%

15%

Stats via FBref

His ability to produce an end product is evident by his higher tally of goal contributions, but also achieving a higher shot on target accuracy rate in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Seeing Eze pulling on the red of Arsenal will be a painful sight for Spurs supporters, especially considering the huge hunt for his signature in recent months.

A deal for Rogers will definitely soften the blow, potentially being a blessing in disguise, with the Lilywhites able to land a bigger talent should they complete a deal for the Villa sensation.

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علق ويلي كاباييرو مساعد مدرب تشيلسي، بعد فوز فريقه بهدفين لهدف واحد أمام ليفربول، على ملعب ستامفورد بريدج في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقال كاباييرو في تصريحات نشرتها “بي بي سي” البريطانية عن إنزو ماريسكا بعد طرده: “إنه بخير، سعيد للغاية الآن، بالطبع لا يمكنه التواجد الآن لكننا سعداء للغاية بتحقيقنا الثلاث نقاط في الثواني الأخيرة”.

وأضاف مساعد مدرب تشيلسي: “نحن سعداء للغاية وفخورون جدًا، قدم اللاعبون أداء رائعًا، الآن فترة راحة جيدة للعديد منهم، ونأمل أن نتمكن من استعادة بعض اللاعبين الآخرين وبدء دورة جديدة من المباريات بنشاط وحيوية”.

وقال كاباييرو عن التسجيل في الدقيقة الأخيرة: “إنه أمر مميز للغاية لأنه يمنحك الطاقة والثقة، أعتقد أن أجواء الملعب تمنحنا المزيد، إنه أمر لا ينسى، لذا علينا الآن استغلال هذه الفرصة لمواصلة التطور، من المؤسف أننا نحظى بفترة راحة الآن، لكن لدينا تواصل جيد بين اللاعبين والجماهير، لدينا فريق شاب جداً”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. كوكوريلا: تدربنا لإيقاف “ميزة” محمد صلاح.. ونستحق الفوز على ليفربول

ورد كاباييرو على سؤال حول وحدة تشيلسي اليوم أمام ليفربول: “تلقينا بطاقة حمراء أخرى اليوم، لكننا أنهينا المباراة بقوة، نعلم أننا فريق جيد يلعب كرة قدم جيدة ونخلق فرص في الشوط الأول، نستحق الهدف الثاني في الشوط الثاني، الطريقة التي قاتلنا بها اليوم في خط الدفاع رائعة، جميعنا فخورون جداً باللاعبين، لا نبحث عن أعذار بل نجد الحلول”.

وأكمل عن إصابة بادياشيلي وأتشيمبونج: “إنهما بخير، كانا قلقين بعض الشيء بشأن وضعهما لكننا تحدثنا معهما وهما بخير، يحتاجان لهذه الاستراحة للتعافي بشكل جيد”.

وأتم كاباييرو عن احتفال ماريسكا: “إنه لأمر مميز لأي مدرب، فلا يمكن لأي مدرب كبت مشاعره، لسوء حظه كان قد حصل على بطاقة صفراء، كلنا بشر، كنا لاعبين ونحب أن نرى ذلك، بالتأكيد يمكننا جميعًا أن نتعلم من ذلك أيضًا”.

وأكد كابييرو عن طرد ماريسكا: “مؤسف ما حدث لكننا نتفهم أجواء المباراة والوضع في اللحظات الحاسمة” .

وقال أيضًا عن أجواء المباراة من البداية إلى النهاية: “لم تكن هناك أي لمسات في وسط الملعب لبعض الدقائق، كانت المباراة مفتوحة جداً، أتيحت لنا بعض الفرص السهلة وبعض التمريرات وتسديدات تصدى لها الحارس ورأسية من إنزو فرنانديز وسددوا بعض التسديدات، لكن ليفربول فاز ببعض المباريات في الوقت الإضافي هذا الموسم وهذه المرة لنا، كرة القدم تمنحك شيئاً ما وأحياناً تسلبك شيئاً ما، نحن سعداء للغاية بتسجيل هذا الهدف ضد فريق قوي حقاً، وكان التواصل بين المشجعين واللاعبين رائعاً، كانت الأجواء رائعة آخر 20 دقيقة”.

وأتم كاباييرو تصريحاته عن هدف إستيفاو: “ليس فقط من أجله بل من أجل الفريق بأكمله، لدينا فريق شاب عليه أن يتعلم من خلال المباريات، ستكون هذه لحظة لا تنسى لإستيفاو ولنا، من الرائع أن نمتلك جميع اللاعبين الذين أتيحت لنا فرصة اللعب معهم، لقد أظهروا اليوم رغبتهم جميعاً في اللعب لهذا النادي، الجهد الذي بذلناه اليوم لإنهاء المباراة بلاعبين في مراكز مختلفة وتقديم كل ما لدينا في الملعب كان مذهلاً”.

وسئل كاباييرو عن حصول تشيلسي على أربع بطاقات حمراء في خمس مباريات: “علينا أن نوقف ذلك، علينا مواصلة العمل لتحسين ذلك، يبدو الأمر سهلاً لكن التعامل مع مشاعر ماريسكا في هذه اللحظة كان صعباً، لحسن الحظ كان لاعباً وفي اللحظة الأخيرة فقط، لأن إنزو مهم جداً على الجانب الآخر للاعبين، علينا العمل على ذلك والتحدث مع الفريق، لا نريد أن نضيع المزيد من النقاط أو فرصة التربع على قمة الترتيب”.

Having already said farewell to Kevin De Bruyne at the end of last season, Manchester City are now reportedly at risk of losing another top star amid reports that he has agreed a big-money contract with another club.

James Trafford: Rejoining Man City a "special" moment

Of course, as exit rumours continue to arrive, Manchester City have also been busy on the incomings front. Taking their list of signings up to six for the summer, the Citizens recently welcomed the return of James Trafford after hijacking Newcastle United’s deal to sign the England international for around £27m.

After sealing his return to The Etihad just two years on from leaving for Burnley, Trafford told City’s official website: “Rejoining City is such special and proud moment both for me and my family.

“I always dreamed that one day I would be able to come back to Manchester City. This is the place I call home – it’s a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play.

“I am also so very excited and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work under Pep and with such a world-class group of players. I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving – and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.

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“I also cannot wait to play in front of the amazing City fans for the first time and will do everything I can to help this great club look to achieve even more success.”

Whilst some may naturally assume that Trafford is arriving to provide backup for Ederson under Pep Guardiola, recent reports suggest that may not be the case.

Ederson agrees £13m-a-year Galatasaray deal

As reported by The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Ederson has now agreed a deal to sign for Galatasaray which will see him earn around £13m-a-year. All that is left for the Turkish club to do, based on those reports, is strike a deal with Man City. Whether the Citizens will open the door for their Brazilian to leave remains to be seen, though.

Although Trafford’s arrival would ease any exit blow caused by Ederson, there remain question marks over just how ready Trafford is to step up at The Etihad. It would be just his second season as a starter in the Premier League, having previously been relegated with Burnley, and that could see City suffer as they aim to reclaim their English crown one year after conceding it to champions Liverpool.

Trafford wouldn’t be replacing just any goalkeeper, either. Ederson is one of the best in Premier League history, especially in possession, and has earned the admiration of Guardiola as a result.

Player-turned-pundit says comments over fitness caused team to give her ‘cold shoulder’

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jan-2025Alex Hartley, England’s former World Cup-winning spinner, has claimed that Sophie Ecclestone “refused” to be interviewed by her on TV and that she has been “given the cold shoulder” by England players since criticising their fitness following their T20 World Cup exit in October.Hartley, who has worked extensively as a broadcaster and pundit since retiring from professional cricket, had said that a handful of players were “letting the team down” with their fitness levels after their shock defeat to West Indies in Dubai. Heather Knight and Jon Lewis, England’s captain and coach, both denied that it had contributed to their group-stage elimination.Following England’s 57-run loss in Monday’s first T20I in Sydney, which put Australia 8-0 up in the Ashes and ensured they will retain the trophy, Hartley said she had been frozen out. “Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a TV interview with me today,” she told the BBC’spodcast. “I’ve been hung out to dry by the England team: none of them will talk to me on the boundary edge.”The reason I said that they were not as fit as Australia is because I want them to compete with Australia, I want them to be better than Australia, and I want them to win Ashes and World Cups. I’m giving my opinion, and I’ve been given the cold shoulder from the England team ever since.Related

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“Not all of them have given me the cold shoulder. I don’t want to say that they’ve all been the same, because they haven’t. Some of the players have been absolutely outstanding: I’ve spoken to them in the street, at the ground, wherever. But a few individuals – coaches, players – they literally haven’t looked at me.”England’s fielding has been a problem throughout the Ashes. Beth Mooney was dropped early in her match-winning 75 in Sydney on Monday, while a series of errors contributed to England’s three ODI defeats at the start of the tour. It prompted Hartley to reiterate her view that England have struggled to match Australia’s “athleticism” across the series.”I’ve upset them, clearly,” she said. “Jon Lewis has come out and said there isn’t a problem with fitness in his squad, there isn’t a problem with fitness in the England environment. They obviously think I’m completely wrong in my opinion – which is fine, absolutely fine. I’m entitled to my opinions, and they’re entitled to theirs.”It’s my job to say if I see something that needs to be better, and I did, but the way that I’ve been treated since I think is totally unfair. But they will say that my comments were unfair, so if that’s the way our relationship is going to be moving forwards, then so be it… If fitness isn’t a problem, then it’s athleticism from a few, isn’t it?”An England team spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by ESPNcricinfo.

Glasgow Rangers have endured a frustrating start to the Scottish Premiership campaign under Russell Martin, drawing both of their matches so far.

The Light Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee at Ibrox on Saturday and needed a stoppage-time penalty from James Tavernier to even rescue a point.

The Light Blues know that they need to improve, as they are already four points off the top of the table after two games, and are putting in work behind the scenes to add new players to the group.

According to reports on the continent, Rangers have agreed a deal to sign Real Betis central defender for a fee that is worth around £2.6m.

The reporter adds that the 20-year-old talent will have his medical in Scotland on Wednesday before officially completing his transfer to Ibrox.

Real Betis will also have a 20% sell-on clause as part of the deal, which means that they will get 20% of any future profit Rangers may make on the £2.6m that they are set to pay for Mendy.

What Nobel Mendy could bring to Rangers

This is an interesting move by the Scottish giants and it is a difficult one to judge because he has not been exposed to a lot of first-team football in his career so far.

Mendy has only played 107 minutes of football in LaLiga for Real Betis, starting one game, to date, and spent most of the 2024/25 campaign playing for Real Betis B.

This means that it is hard to judge how he will adapt to playing in the Premiership for Rangers because he has not been in a senior environment for a significant period of time.

What we do know about Mendy, though, is that he is a left-footed centre-back and that is something that Martin does not currently have in his first-team squad, because Clinton Nsiala and Ben Davies have not been a part of the set-up so far this season.

This means that he could provide good balance to the way the team builds out from the back by being able to comfortably pass the ball down the left side on his preferred foot.

Mendy (24/25 league season)	Real Betis	Real Betis B
Appearances	2	13
Starts	1	12
Pass accuracy	87%	85%
Ball recoveries per game	3.5	7.9
Clearances per game	4.5	2.0
Duel success rate	100%	41%
Stats via Sofascore

However, as you can see in the table above, the youngster did lose 59% of his duels for Real Betis B over 13 games at league level last season, which suggests that he may not yet be up for the physicality of playing senior football week-in-week-out.

This means that the Light Blues may have to be patient with Mendy, instead of rushing him into the side, as he does not appear to be ready to step in and make an instant impact in the first-team.

Rangers lining up move for Championship star

Meanwhile, the Scottish giants are reportedly looking at signing another young talent who could come in as an even better addition than Mendy.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, as relayed by GIVEMESPORT, Rangers are one of the teams in the race to sign Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

The reporter claims that the EFL Championship outfit have listed the Northern Ireland international up for sale and are set to demand a fee in the region of £8m for his services.

Rangers, who signed Djeidi Gassama from the Owls earlier this summer, are now lining up a potential swoop for the shot-stopper, although they have yet to bid for his services.

The outlet adds that the Gers may only make their move if the asking price drops from the £8m that Wednesday are currently demanding for the 20-year-old talent.

Why Rangers should sign Pierce Charles

Rangers should push to get a deal done for the Northern Irish titan before the end of the summer transfer window if he becomes available at a price that is affordable for the club.

The Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, dubbed “amazing” by Anthony Elanga, is the same age as Mendy, 20, but would arrive as an even better signing because his experience in senior football suggests that he can make an instant impact at Ibrox.

Unlike the Betis youngster, who struggled with the physicality of B team football last term, Charles has produced impressive performances in a first-team environment.

The Northern Ireland international has only conceded 15 goals in 13 games for Sheffield Wednesday since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, despite their struggles, and made a staggering 11 saves in their first match of this season against Leicester City, per Sofascore.

24/25 season *per 90	Charles (Championship)	Butland (Premiership)
Save percentage	66.7%	66.3%
Saves*	2.50	2.18
Goals prevented*	0.27	-0.08
High claims*	1.38	1.11
Long pass accuracy	52.5%	39.4%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, his performances in the Championship for the Owls were even more impressive than Jack Butland’s were in the Premiership for the Gers.

Despite a couple of strong showings in Champions League qualifiers, Butland has not had the best start to the Premiership season. He has conceded 0.66 more than expected, after letting in 0.72 more than expected last term, per FotMob.

Meanwhile, Charles prevented 0.90 xG against Leicester and prevented 2.14 xG across eight outings in the Championship last term, which suggests that he could arrive at Ibrox as a player who could step in and make an instant impact as an upgrade on Butland as a shot-stopper.

It is not only his shot-stopping that is impressive, though, as the £8m-rated star is also excellent with the ball at his feet, which is backed up by his far superior long pass percentage in comparison to the current Gers number one.

The clips in the post above illustrate why Charles could be a vital signing for the way that Martin wants his team to play, because he is composed under pressure and has a terrific technique with both long and short passes.

This suggests that the Owls star would be a perfect fit for what the manager is looking for with his style of play, whilst also potentially being an upgrade on Butland as an out-and-out shot-stopper.

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2

By
Dan Emery

Aug 11, 2025

That is why Charles would be an even better signing than Mendy because he has shown that he has the quality to deliver quality performances at first-team level in the here and now, whilst it remains to be seen where the defender is at in his development.

Sunderland had one of the busiest transfer windows in the Premier League, with Regis Le Bris’s side having the 5th highest net spend of the entire league.

Earlier in the window, Sunderland brought in some of their most expensive ever players ever, such as Habib Diarra, Simon Adingra and Enzo Le Fée. The Black Cats were still pushing for deals on deadline day as they signed Ajax’s Brian Brobbey in the window’s final hours.

However, one deal they didn’t manage to complete was that of Jhon Lucumi. Sunderland placed numerous bids with Bologna for the centre-back that culminated with a £24 million deadline day offer that was rebuffed.

Bologna had already sold centre-back Sam Beukema to Napoli in the window and were reluctant to let another defender go. They were also hoping to get Lucumi to sign a new contract, but this has not yet materialised, providing Sunderland with the opportunity to reignite the transfer saga in January.

Sunderland given hope in Lucumi transfer

Renato Villa spent six years at Bologna and retired there after making nearly 200 appearances for the club. In a recent interview, he spoke about Bologna’s current defensive options and was pressed about Lucumi’s future: “Selling him now would have brought in £21.7 million, while if you sell him in January, you’ll only get £9 million. It’s an evaluation the club will surely have made, weighing up the technical and financial factors.”

As an alternative to Lucumi, Sunderland agreed a deadline loan deal with RB Leipzig for Lutsharel Geertruida, paying just over £2 million as a loan fee, and they have the option to sign him permanently next summer for £20 million. Despite bringing in another option though, with Geertruida only guaranteed to be on Wearside for one year, Sunderland may go back in for their top target when his price drops, providing he does not sign a new contract.

Space for Geertruida and Lucumi

While both are good options for Le Bris, they are two very different defenders. Last season, Lucumi played considerably more of the pair; his extra minutes equalled almost 12 full games. Their defensive strengths had significant variations, with Geertruida on the front foot with more interceptions, whereas Lucumi was better at tackling dribbling players and getting blocks in.

As well as the ways they vary statistically, they also vary stylistically. Lucumi is a traditional centre-back, while Geertruida is a little more versatile and fluid in his position, having previously been utilised at centre-back and full-back. This means that if Lucumi were to join in January, there may still be a place for Geertruida as cover along all of the backline.

Overall, Sunderland seem to still have the funds available to sign Lucumi, especially for the cut-price, as they submitted that deadline day bid for him and only signed Geertruida on loan. If they feel they can accommodate both players in their squad, this would be the best strategy, and having multiple defensive options won’t hurt their chances of Premier League survival.

U.S. international Christian Pulisic powered AC Milan to a 2-1 win over Napoli on Sunday, recording both a goal and an assist in the clash with the defending champions. After the victory, Pulisic said it sends a strong message to Serie A, praising the team’s defense and spirit as a driving force behind their success.

'We feel incredible'

Pulisic expressed immense pride in his team's resilient performance after Pervis Estupinan 57th-minute red card forced Milan to defend their lead with one fewer player.

“We feel incredible, honestly,” Pulisic said in an interview with . “Just the spirit of the team the way we fought. Also after the red card, we really gave everything and it’s a special feeling now for us.”

The American believes to the top of the table sends a message to other Serie A teams.

"It sends a message for sure,” Pulisic said. “That we’re a good team, we’re a strong team, you know we can score goals, but we can defend like this. And we have a good spirit and I think it shows a lot for sure.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFighting against skepticism

USMNT icon Tony Meola praised Pulisic following his exceptional performance in AC Milan's victory. The American remains on the top of Serie A scoring chart, but Meola believes Pulisic continues to get treated with skepticism despite his success.

“If you remember, his first year everyone was like can he get 10 goal contributions? I said he was at least a 20-goal contribution guy throughout the season. But then the story was, can he do it again? And then the story is can he follow that up, right? It’s like people don’t want to believe in him sometimes," Meola said on . "They know he’s got it but they’re almost waiting for the other shoe to drop and he continues to get better.”

Getty Images Sport'He’s right there with Clint'

Meola suggested that Pulisic's primary motivation is being recognized for his skill rather than being evaluated through the lens of his American background.

“He has said time and time again, ‘I want to show you I’m a good footballer.' Not [just that] I’m a good American footballer, that I’m a good footballer," Meola explained. "Take the American tag off of me, look at me like everybody else. And that’s what American players are trying to do but this guy has taken the torch."

Meola's also positioned Pulisic among the pantheon of American soccer legends despite the winger being just 27 years old.

“We talk about Clint Dempsey all the time and he was incredible in Europe,” Meola said. “At some point we’re going to talk about Christian and his career and it’s going to be the top American player that’s gone over to Europe. I think he’s right there. Clint, I know that’s a different debate, but he’s right there with Clint.”

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AFPPicking up momentum

Pulisic's exceptional club form comes at an opportune moment for both Milan and the USMNT. and the American will take on Juventus on the road on Oct. 5 before the international break begins. Then Pulisic travels stateside as the USMNT will face Australia and Ecuador in friendly matches. 

West Ham United have now submitted a major enquiry over a deal for a “magic” midfielder, who is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Alvarez uncertainty

There is now an expectation that Edson Alvarez will exit the London Stadium this summer, having fallen down the pecking order, and Ajax are thought to be considering a loan move for their former midfielder.

The Mexican was benched for Saturday’s 3-0 defeat against Sunderland, but starters Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse didn’t exactly fare well at the Stadium of Light, both being withdrawn after the 70-minute mark with the Hammers 2-0 down.

Consequently, Graham Potter may be eager to get at least one new central midfielder through the door prior to the transfer deadline, and the Irons have now joined the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Aleix Garcia.

However, the five-time Spain international is not the only option on the shortlist, with Potter’s side now joining the race for a versatile midfielder, who is able to play in a multitude of positions.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states West Ham have now submitted a major enquiry over a deal for RB Leipzig’s Eljif Elmas, who has regularly featured in attacking midfield and on both wings throughout his career.

Elmas has predominantly been utilised in a central midfield role, however, and the maestro was particularly impressive during a stint with reigning Serie A champions Napoli, who are also in the race for his signature.

Their new Rice: West Ham now in the mix to sign PL "monster" for Potter

West Ham are in the race to sign a midfielder who could be their best since Declan Rice.

ByWill Miller Aug 17, 2025

Despite only arriving at Leipzig for a fee of €24m (£21m) in 2024, the 25-year-old wants to leave the German club this summer, and he would be keen on a move to the Premier League or a return to the Serie A.

"Magic" Elmas could be exciting addition for West Ham

While the North Macedonia international’s move to Leipzig hasn’t worked out, with the Bundesliga side open to sanctioning a departure this summer, there are plenty of signs he could be a solid addition to Potter’s midfield.

The former Napoli man was a key player for the Italian club during their Scudetto-winning 2022-23 campaign, picking up six goals and three assists in 36 outings, with his side going on to lift the title.

Robert Earnshaw has also praised the Leipzig ace for his performances at international level in the past, saying: “He has this magic in him. He has the ability to create something out of nothing. Great movement, intelligent, he understands spacing and time and he can finish.”

Elmas’ attacking prowess, coupled with his versatility, could make him an exciting addition to West Ham’s squad, although the fact the North Macedonian struggled to adapt to life in the Bundesliga will be a concern.

UP Warriorz couldn’t capitalise on the blazing start from Grace Harris and couldn’t defend their below-par total

Srinidhi Ramanujam26-Feb-2025Nat Sciver-Brunt put on an exceptional all-round show to propel Mumbai Indians to the top of the table with an eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz in Bengaluru. She took three wickets and followed it up with an impressive unbeaten 75 off 44 balls to chase down the target of 143 with 18 balls remaining.Warriorz initially rode on Grace Harris’ quickfire 45 and Vrinda Dinesh’s solid 33 but lost eight wickets for 54 runs to eventually end with a below-par total.Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews stitched together a solid 133-run stand for the second wicket and made the chase look easy. Though Matthews struggled her way to a 50-ball 59 after getting a life early on, Sciver-Brunt’s boundary-laden knock made sure MI raced to their third win in four games. Warriorz are fourth on the points table now with two wins after five games.With 254 runs from four matches, Sciver-Brunt is now the leading run-scorer of this WPL, overtaking Ellyse Perry’s 235.Another Sciver-Brunt showSciver-Brunt came in early when MI were 6 for 1 in the fourth over, with Matthews struggling to get her timing and rhythm right. Chinelle Henry was swinging the ball both ways, making it difficult to score off her. But Sciver-Brunt took only five balls to change things around.She welcomed Saima Thakor with a hat-trick of fours in the sixth over – hitting to long-on, deep square-leg and deep cover – staying deep in the crease, and putting her bottom hand to good use and effortlessly manoeuvring the ball to both sides of the pitch.When there was width on offer, she cut fiercely, and when the length was short, she pulled behind and in front of square and toyed with the Warriorz bowlers. She brought up her fifty off 29 balls with nine fours, bringing the equation down to 54 off 47 balls. This included a hat-trick of fours off Henry as well, in the 11th over.From there, it was a cakewalk for MI as Matthews also found her range and started hitting boundaries. Overall, Sciver-Brunt struck 13 fours in her 44-ball stay.Grace Harris gave UP Warriorz a blazing start•BCCIHarris moves up, Vrinda moves downAfter four matches, Warriorz took a cue from the WBBL and the Hundred and promoted Harris to open for the first time in WPL after her struggles in the middle order. The move felt just right as she looked in her element from the start.With Kiran Navgire falling in the first over, it was up to Harris and Vrinda to steady the innings on a pitch that was holding up a bit, and the two shared 79 runs off 52 balls to give Warriorz solidity.Harris began with a scoop against Sciver-Brunt and punished Shabnim Ismail for three fours on the bounce in the second over. She kept attacking and smashed 6, 4, 4, 6 off Matthews in the fourth. She swept and pulled towards square leg, muscled the ball to long-on, and rolled her wrists to bisect the gap between mid-on and midwicket.On the other hand, Vrinda – who had scored only 40 in the previous four matches – looked in much better touch and played second fiddle to Harris well. She played a lofted cover drive elegantly to start the third over and followed it with a hook in the same over. Unlike Harris, Vrinda found boundaries on the off side with classy cover drives in her 30-ball 33.The first two partnerships gave Warriorz 81, the most for them in this WPL so far.Middle overs remain a problem for WarriorzIt was something the Warriorz captain Deepti Sharma had admitted recently, that they needed to do better in the middle overs. But they couldn’t, squandering a strong start by losing wickets in clumps, again, to lose the plot. From 81 for 1, they collapsed to 123 for 7, losing five of those wickets in the middle overs for 30 runs.It began when Amelia Kerr removed Harris in the tenth over after the batter was dropped on 44 by Ismail off Jintimani Kalita. Offspinner Sanskriti Gupta then bowled a momentum-changing 11th over when she dismissed both Vrinda and Tahlia McGrath in the space of four balls. Warriorz slowed down and did not quite recover after that.Overall, they have lost the most wickets (24) in the middle overs (7 to 16) in this WPL so far and have been the slowest (6.72) in that phase too.