Abbott picked up three wickets as Stoinis’ half-century went in vain

AAP06-Jan-2023English import James Vince fell short of a century but delivered at the top of the order to steer the Sydney Sixers to a six-wicket win over Melbourne Stars.Marcus Stoinis blasted 52 off 28 balls to lift the Stars to a competitive 5 for 173 at the MCG on Friday. But Sixers reached their target with just one ball to spare on the back of Vince’s unbeaten 91 from 59 deliveries and some late hitting from Jordan Silk.Silk belted a six from the third ball of Luke Wood’s dramatic final over and was controversially given out caught behind before Dan Christian hit the winning runs.The result was the Sixers’ ninth consecutive win over the Stars – a record BBL period of dominance by one club over another.It left the Stars languishing in last place, while the Sixers are level on wins at the top with the Scorchers and Thunder.The Sixers required 36 off the final three overs when Vince belted back-to-back sixes off Trent Boult (1 for 39).A further 11 runs were required off the last over and Vince should have been run-out looking for two off the first ball, but fellow Englishman Joe Clarke missed his first swipe at the stumps with the batter short his ground.The massive six from Silk (15 off 10) tilted the match the Sixers’ way but he was judged to have nicked Wood’s next ball behind and was given his marching orders. Christian hit his only ball faced off Wood for four, steering the Sixers to 4-176.Vince’s season-high innings included nine fours and two sixes as he fell narrowly short of becoming the first player in Sixers history to score a century.Earlier, Stoinis showcased his value as one of the BBL’s great entertainers in his first match since announcing a deal to play in the ILT20.The Stars’ premier power hitter was travelling at run-a-ball for his first 12 deliveries faced and exploded with 38 off the next 12, bringing the home crowd to life.Stoinis blasted seven fours and two sixes, playing the lead role as the Stars took 34 runs off Chris Jordan and Hayden Kerr during the power surge.Stars opener Tom Rogers, signed as a replacement for injured skipper Glenn Maxwell, rode his luck at times and cashed in with a career-best knock of 48 from 33 deliveries.But he was denied a maiden half-century at BBL level when he fell to a brilliant diving catch by Jordan in the outfield.Sean Abbott (3-31) was the game’s only multiple wicket-taker.The Stars lost Campbell Kellaway to a cut hand after he was hurt taking a catch to dismiss Daniel Hughes (28).

Brighton & Hove Albion host Chelsea in the Premier League on Friday evening, with the two sides set to meet at the American Express Stadium for the second time in the space of a week.

The visitors will be looking to avenge their FA Cup exit at the weekend, crashing out of the competition at the fourth round stage as a result of a 2-1 defeat.

Having suffered a 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing, the Seagulls will be hoping to get their European push back on track, and they would move up to eighth with a victory.

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1 ByRoss Kilvington Feb 10, 2025 Brighton v Chelsea team news

Brighton

Brighton currently have a number of players on the sidelines, with Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan and James Milner expected to be ruled out for a considerable period, while Jason Steele is also unavailable after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Solly March has missed the last three matches and is set to miss out again, with the 30-year-old undergoing rehabilitation, while Lewis Dunk is doubtful.

Chelsea

The Blues also have some notable absentees, with Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Mykhailo Mudryk unlikely to be available for selection anytime soon.

Before the trip to Brighton last week, Enzo Maresca confirmed Marc Guiu could be ruled out for months, in what could be a real blow, whereas Nicolas Jackson is also sidelined.

Reece James wasn’t selected last weekend, but Maresca has stated it was a pre-planned decision and the captain could return this weekend.

Where to watch Brighton v Chelsea on TV

Brighton vs Chelsea has been selected for live TV coverage. The fixture, which is scheduled to kick-off at 8pm (GMT) on Friday 14th February, will be shown on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.

In the USA, viewers can tune in on NBC.

Brighton v Chelsea referee and VAR

The Premier League have appointed Chris Kavanagh as the referee for this Friday’s clash, with the 39-year-old set to be supported by assistants Lee Betts and Mark Scholes, while Stuart Attwell is the fourth official.

Michael Oliver has been named as the Video Assistant Referee, with the Assistant Video Assistant Referee being named as Ian Hussin.

Games

18

18

Record

11W, 3D, 4L

5W, 5D, 8L

Cards received

32 Yellow, 0 Red

40 Yellow, 0 Red

Cards to opponents

42 Yellow, 1 Red

31 Yellow, 2 Red

Penalties for/against

5/2

5/6

Brighton v Chelsea form Brighton

Brighton’s Premier League form has been inconsistent, defeating Ipswich Town and Manchester United on the road since the turn of the year, before falling to consecutive defeats against Everton and Nottingham Forest.

The 7-0 loss against Forest is likely to be a cause for particular concern, but Fabian Hurzeler’s side will take confidence from the fact they beat Friday’s opponents 2-1 in the FA Cup last time out.

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

Sat 8th Feb

Chelsea

FA Cup

W 2-1

Sat 1st Feb

Nottingham Forest (a)

Premier League

L 7-0

Sat 25th Jan

Everton (h)

Premier League

L 0-1

Sun 19th Jan

Man Utd (a)

Premier League

W 1-3

Thu 16th Jan

Ipswich (a)

Premier League

W 0-2

Chelsea

Maresca insisted his side were not a part of the Premier League title race earlier this season, and the Blues’ form since the end of 2024 means that Champions League qualification is a more realistic target.

A record of two wins in their last three games keeps Chelsea in the top four, producing a second-half comeback to defeat West Ham United 2-1 in their last Premier League match.

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

Sat 8th Feb

Brighton (a)

FA Cup

L 2-1

Mon 3rd Feb

West Ham (h)

Premier League

W 2-1

Sat 25th Jan

Man City (a)

Premier League

L 3-1

Mon 20th Jan

Wolves (h)

Premier League

W 3-1

Tue 14th Jan

Bournemouth (h)

Premier League

D 2-2

Brighton v Chelsea head-to-head

Brighton and Chelsea have met 25 times in total, with the majority of their clashes coming since the Seagulls’ promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

The Blues have a very strong record against Friday’s hosts, although Hurzeler’s side managed to notch a fourth victory against the six-time English champions on Saturday.

Brighton wins

4

Draws

5

Chelsea wins

16

Wrexham, Burnley and Birmingham have all been promoted, with celebrity owners capitalizing on success with aplomb

Todd Boehly wanted 12 players on the pitch. At least, that's what we were told. It was 2022, and with Cristiano Ronaldo out at Manchester United, the American businessman saw an opportunity. He tried to piece together a picture for then-manager Thomas Tuchel. Ronaldo, he surmised, could play in Chelsea's front line – the final piece of the puzzle.

What he didn't realize is that, after piecing together the formation, Boehly has 12 players on the pitch, a unique but yet-to-be-tried 4-4-3 formation.

That tale has been a beating stick to bash American owners by English fans in recent years. Americans don't know anything about football. They are ruining sport. They don't even use the right word for it. And there are, indeed, plenty of examples of poor American ownership (although it is not just Americans that can be bad owners in football – see Tottenham's Daniel Levy, pride of Essex, for more!)

But in the past 12 months, something has changed. Chelsea notwithstanding – that will always be a dumpster fire until they come up with a coherent strategy, hire a manager for a long-term project, and renovate the ailing Stamford Bridge – American ownership in English soccer has looked, well, good.

Wrexham's Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Birmingham's Tom Brady and J.J. Watt's Burnley have all achieved promotion from their divisions. Throw in the Leeds ownership – 49ers enterprises – and Americans are four-for-four on successful seasons. Promotion is good. It makes fans happy.

And more broadly, it could prove to be vital for the growth of the game in America, with big names operating in foreign countries showing the United States how soccer in its most traditional form works – and how to be successful at doing it.

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  American ownership: Why it works

  American ownership in European sports in a relatively recent phenomenon. It has, in fact, only broken into the mainstream consciousness over the course of the last 20 years. The Glazer Family bought Manchester United in 2005. Tom Hicks and George Gilette purchased a majority stake in Liverpool two years later.

  The latter duo were booted from the club by angry fans within four years. The former have drawn the ire of supporters for their repeated mismanagement of United (although it is worth pointing out that club level decisions, not a lack of funding, have contributed to the Red Devils' decline.)

  All of that set a pretty miserable table for those who followed. Celebrity culture has changed that, though. But instead of swinging big, a series of big names did perhaps the smart thing, and got involved in lower leagues. The Hollywood duo of McElhenney and Reynolds bought Wrexham in 2021. Brady invested in Birmingham in 2023. Watt became the face of Burnley – although he owns a minority stake – the same year.

  And there's more. RedBird Capital, who also have a stake in a small baseball team known as the New York Yankees, are controlling owners of Milan. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Lyon and Roma all have majority U.S.-based investment.

  There's no single, sweeping generalization to be made here. United's owners are clueless. Wrexham's are creative. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are successful and financially sustainable. Lyon and Chelsea are nightmares. But there are tangible clues as to how this can all work.

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  Welcome to (a sensible) Wrexham

  Wrexham, if you zoom out, have nailed it. There was plenty of reason to be skeptical when the Hollywood duo bought the club nearly five years ago. It is often forgotten that Wrexham were not their sole choice. And when it became clear that they intended to make a documentary, chronicling their ownership of the club, which would then be sold to FX and Hulu, few fans were convinced.

  It seemed a vanity project of sorts. Here were a couple of guys who used the wrong word for a sport, taking on an ailing team in a forgotten post-industrial city, and packaging it into a must-watch series. Not exactly the best way to endear yourself to defeatist Brits.

  Of course, the reality has been different. Wrexham weren't promoted in their first season, but they were stable. Since then, they have achieved three consecutive promotions, rising from non-league soccer all the way into the English Championship. They have made it all look rather easy, too. Welcome to Wrexham, season four, drops May 15, and the show remains a PR project of sorts. It's captivating, something that really scratches the American feel-good itch. The U.S. loves a plucky underdog.

  But their success is only partly due to the documentary. Wrexham are not underdogs. Or at least, they haven't been. They are richer, more willing to spend, and better run than pretty much everyone else they have faced. Promotion, given their wealth, should be an expectation.

  It helps, of course, that there are a couple of funny guys at the center of it all who have made what seems to be a sincere effort to improve the town around them. But they have money, and they're doing the basics well. Toss in a few concerts, celebrity appearances, and TikTok sponsorship, and these guys are showing how a small club can improve – regardless of where the owners are from.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  J.J. Watt, Burnley, and the power of winning

  Burnley have stuck to a similar formula – albeit in a different way. J.J. Watt had a Hall of Fame career in the NFL and will go down as one of the best defensive ends of all time. His ownership in Burnley, though, is financially insignificant.

  Alan Pace – a senior figure in investment firm ALK Capital – owns 50 percent of the club. Michael Smith and Stuart Hunt own around 17 percent apiece. Watt, whose estimated net worth is $70 million, has not disclosed how much of Burnley he is invested in. But it is very much a minority stake.

  But Burnley have been smart. No one cares about Pace, Smith or Hunt, from a PR perspective. They're guys in suits. Watt, meanwhile, is the fun one who wears baseball caps, goes to games, and interacts with the players and fans. He represented Burnley's team at 7 a side tournament TST in Cary, North Carolina last summer. He's the one that Americans know and English fans are starting to like.

  This is PR mastery. Watt, like Reynolds and McElhenney, is the smiley dude who is warming to soccer, and has the kind of infectious personality that U.S. fans love. He tweeted at goalkeeper James Trafford after Burnley's historic run of clean sheets in the EFL Championship, and joked he would come out of retirement if he went the whole season without conceding a goal (Trafford went 12 games, and Watt admitted to getting a bit nervous.)

  Burnley, too, are in a similar situation. Parachute payments down from the Premier League have meant that they are far richer than their competition. They have a squad filled with talent too good for the Championship. Trafford is perhaps England's long-term starting goalkeeper. Their manager, Scott Parker, has bona fide Premier League experience. Watt is the grinning face of a winning team that has very little to lose.

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  Tom Brady, celebrity, and well-timed interviews

  Brady, meanwhile, is slightly different. If Wrexham and Burnley are rich relative to their competition, Birmingham are unimaginably wealthy. They are a club that has spent 57 seasons in England's top flight. In League 1, their stadium rivals only Sunderland in terms of size and facilities.

  Birmingham have stumbled in recent years with a series of poor managerial appointments and financial mismanagement, bringing about a transfer embargo in the early 2010s. In 2023, they were purchased by American hedge fund manager Tom Wagner's subsidiary, Shelby Companies – yes, named after the family in the Birmingham-based Peaky Blinders – after two other takeover attempts fell through.

  Brady was brought on as a minority investor. They got it badly wrong in 2023, making the baffling decision to hire Wayne Rooney, who, with two wins in 15 games, took them from Championship playoff contenders to relegation candidates. They went down without much of a fight.

  Their response was to spend big. They dropped nearly $30 million last summer on new signings and have built one of the best seasons in League 1 history. Brady has not shown a deep interest in soccer, and he certainly isn't celebrating like a madman in the cheap seats. Instead, he sort of stands there in sunglasses, looking robotic, and peering over the team he had a little-to-no role in constructing.

  But Brady – as has been a theme with a lot of his post-NFL career – has been shrewd in the way he has pieced together an image. It starts with a vague interest. Wagner has insisted that Brady texts him regularly about the state of the club.

  "Tom is engaged with the club 365 days a year. Not a day goes by where he and I don’t FaceTime or talk or message about Birmingham," Wagner said in April.

  He has appeared on English TV twice in the last seven months to spill vague platitudes about team success. He has talked about "processes" and "development." He has insisted that Brimingham are "not done yet" after achieving promotion. That NFL media training, it seems, has come in handy. But his PR presence is felt.

Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have been warned they're behind Morgan Gibbs-White for England as Thomas Tuchel plans for their June internationals.

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Foden & Palmer have struggled with form

Gibbs-White fuelling Forest's UCL hopes

Alan Hutton believes he should be preferred over othersFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Gibbs-White has enjoyed a remarkable campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo, becoming one of the driving forces behind Forest's turnaround after seasons of battling near the foot of the Premier League. His consistent output and creative influence have sparked renewed discussions about his role in the national setup while also being linked with a move to Manchester City as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite his excellent performances throughout the season, Gibbs-White was initially omitted from Tuchel’s first England squad earlier this year, a decision that raised eyebrows among supporters and pundits alike. It wasn’t until Palmer withdrew due to injury that Gibbs-White was brought into the squad. However, the former Wolves midfielder didn't get a chance to prove himself on the pitch. He was left out of the matchday squad for the 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley and was an unused substitute during the following fixture against Latvia.

WHAT ALAN HUTTON SAID

Foden and Palmer are battling their dip in form this season, and this has led Alan Hutton to advocate Gibbs-White’s inclusion in the England starting XI.

Hutton told BoyleSports, who offer the latest Champions League odds: "Gibbs White has been brilliant, absolutely brilliant. He's probably one of the main reasons why Nottingham Forest are where they are at this moment in time. Looking at other options for England, Palmer has kind of dropped off a little bit. Foden is probably not playing as much as he would like. As class players as they are, these things happen. You have drops in form or whatever it may be.

"Even for England, it goes back to the old thing where you think of Morgan Gibbs-White. He wasn't in the initial squad last time, then he got brought in through injuries, which is quite incredible. If you're picking off form, he should definitely be there, but he needs to continue to play at that high level if they want to make the Champions League."

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WHAT NEXT?

While Palmer and Foden remain central figures in England’s long-term plans, their current situations leave them vulnerable to being overtaken by in-form competitors. With just a few Premier League fixtures left before Tuchel announces his squad, players vying for selection know every performance counts. Gibbs-White has put himself firmly in the conversation – and if his current trajectory continues, he could well find himself starting in an England shirt this summer. The Three Lions resume their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra on June 7 before hosting Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground on June 10.

Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at The Etihad in the Premier League on Sunday, extending the opposition’s gap between the two clubs to 20 points, felt like the end of an era for this version of Pep Guardiola’s side.

The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson, and John Stones may not be at a point where they can continue to be relied upon as they have been in the past.

De Bruyne’s wild effort on goal, which was closer to the top tier of the stands than Alisson, at the end of the first half was telling, and time may be up for the Belgian, who is out of contract in the summer.

Guardiola already started an overhaul of his squad in the January transfer window by allowing Kyle Walker to join AC Milan on loan, whilst also signing Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Vitor Reis, and Omar Marmoush to bolster his options across the pitch.

Walker may not be the only one of the old guard to permanently move on from The Etihad at the end of this season, though, as City are reportedly looking to ditch multiple ageing stars.

The players Man City are looking to move on

The Daily Star recently reported that the Cityzens have started a ‘reboot’ and that there are a host of over 30s who are set to be sold or released in the summer transfer window.

It stated that Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, and Ederson are all expected to move on from The Etihad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Gundogan and de Bruyne are both out of contract at the end of this season and this means that City can, simply, allow their deals to expire and wave goodbye to them as free agents, alleviating any need to find a buyer for their services.

It will be interesting to see how they handle a situation like Stones’, however, as he still has until 2026 on his contract and his injury record could warn off potential suitors.

John Stones’ injury record at Manchester City

Season

Injuries

Games missed

24/25

4

28

23/24

1

12

22/23

2

13

21/22

0

0

20/21

3

6

19/20

3

18

18/19

3

13

17/18

3

17

16/17

0

0

Via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Stones has only had two injury-free seasons out of his nine-year career with Manchester City to date, and only one in his last eight.

The England international has, therefore, not been a reliable option for Guardiola, particularly in the last three seasons, as he has missed far too many games through injury.

Hugo Viana is poised to arrive as the club’s new director of football this summer, replacing Txiki Begiristain, and he could seal a dream first signing amid interest in a Premier League centre-back who could come in as an upgrade on Stones at the heart of the defence.

Manchester City's interest in Premier League colossus

According to GIVEMESPORT, Manchester City are one of the clubs plotting a summer swoop for Bournemouth’s teen central defender Dean Huijsen.

Transfer Focus

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The report claims that Viana will play a ‘pivotal’ role in the recruitment process in the upcoming transfer window and that the signing of the Cherries sensation could be one of his first pieces of business at City.

It states that fellow Premier League giants Liverpool and Chelsea have also shown an interest in the Spain youth international, which means that there could be plenty of competition to land his signature at the end of this season.

GIVEMESPORT adds that there is confidence that Huijsen is ready to take his career to the next level, which would leave him open to moving on from the Vitality Stadium in the summer amid interest from several big sides in the division.

The outlet also reveals that the former Juventus central defender has a release clause in his Bournemouth contract that can be triggered at £50m, so City may not have to negotiate with the Cherries if they are willing to meet that figure.

Why Manchester City should sign Dean Huijsen

Viana must push to get a deal over the line for the Spanish titan as a dream first signing upon his arrival at the club in the summer because he could come in as a big upgrade on Stones.

Firstly, the best ability is availability. Huijsen has only missed seven matches through injury since the start of the 2021/22 campaign and has only missed one game through injury since the start of the 2022/23 season.

This suggests that the £50m-rated star is far more likely to be a reliable option for Guardiola at City next season, as he has a far superior fitness record in comparison to Stones.

Huijsen’s quality in possession and as a defender also suggests that he could arrive as a terrific signing by Viana. During his spell on loan at Roma last season, analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “ridiculous” after a terrific goal against Frosinone, as shown below.

Do not be fooled by his frame in the clip above, Huijsen is also a strong defender who has proven his defensive quality in the Premier League for Bournemouth this season.

24/25 Premier League

John Stones

Dean Huijsen

Appearances

11

20

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.9

2.9

Clearances per game

1.6

4.6

Blocks per game

0.0

0.2

Aerial duel success rate

57%

58%

Duels won per game

1.6

3.7

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Cherries colossus has significantly outperformed Stones as an out-and-out defender in the top-flight, by doing far more to stop opposition attackers each match.

Huijsen has also completed more progressive passes per 90 (4.49) than Stones (3.45) in the Premier League this season, which suggests that the central defender could also provide more quality at building up attacks for his own team.

Therefore, the 19-year-old sensation, who still has plenty of years ahead of him to develop, could be a dream first signing for Viana as a brilliant upgrade on Stones for Guardiola in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Related Man City's McAtee may be used as makeweight in deal for £87m Florian Wirtz

City may have to let a player leave the club in order to make a deal happen this summer.

Posts 2 ByBrett Worthington Feb 25, 2025

It is now down to the City director of football to win the race for Huijsen’s signature ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, as bringing in a proven Premier League centre-back and an upgrade on Stones at the age of 19 would represent a dream first piece of business.

After tearing through West Indies with the pink ball under lights, cementing his reputation as a fan favourite, Scott Boland has been assured of a spot in Australia’s star-studded attack for the first Test against South Africa as captain Pat Cummins prepares to return from a quad injury.Playing his first Test match since a starring role in last summer’s Ashes, Boland set the Adelaide Oval alight late on day three of the second Test with three wickets in an over to rekindle memories of his remarkable 6 for 7 against England at the MCG 12 months ago.Having taken 21 wickets at an astonishing average of just 10.33 from four Tests, Boland has become Australia’s fourth pace bowler behind incumbents Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.Related

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But swing specialist Michael Neser, also recalled in Adelaide in his first Test since debuting against England a year ago, put his hand up with a terrific five-wicket haul in a performance marked by relentless accuracy.While Hazlewood has been ruled out with a side strain, Cummins is on track to play in the first Test in Brisbane starting on December 17. His likely availability has caused a headache for Australia’s selectors faced with the difficult choice between Boland and Neser, who particularly enjoys bowling on his home ground at the Gabba.But Boland has been given the nod to confirm his standing as Australia’s next in line paceman.”Expecting Scott to take that spot at the Gabba. That’s the running line, and he’s done nothing wrong,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said. “His record is amazing at the moment, so he’ll take his place and the assumption is that Pat does play. So you’ve got Cummins, Starc and Boland, with [Cameron] Green and [Nathan] Lyon to support around that.”Having already delivered several iconic spells in his brief Test career, 33-year-old Boland has become an unlikely cult hero.”There is an expectation now because it’s not just an outlier, it’s happening every time. But it’s fantastic to see the crowd embrace him,” McDonald said. “It’s not too often you get a Victorian embraced at the Adelaide Oval, so that was great to see.”While his immediate focus is on an expected gruelling series against South Africa, Boland’s status in the upcoming BBL season is unknown having departed Hobart Hurricanes. Whether he surfaces as a replacement player later in the season will hinge on his workload against South Africa.”It’s Scott’s decision, and we respect all the players that opt in or opt out for differing reasons,” McDonald said. “His summers are unknown as that fourth quick in amongst the pack.”So I think it will be assessed and see where he’s at, how many Test matches he plays and where his body’s at. I thought last summer he was outstanding in those three Test matches, but he was fatigued at the end of that.”It’s a huge burden, so I think he’ll just see where he’s at to make a decision later. He’d be pretty good in the Big Bash though.”Amid an arduous schedule of five Tests this summer in 40 days, ahead of major tours to India and England next year, injuries to Cummins and Hazlewood have underlined the importance of Australia’s deep pool of reserve quicks with Western Australian tearaway Lance Morris also in the squad.”It’s just a reality, the games keep coming,” McDonald said. “Last year it was Covid and injuries as well, so it wasn’t by design [the number of quicks in the squad] nor has it been this early in the summer. “The short turnarounds, the nature of it….it’s just a huge demand.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro João Victor, do Corinthians, é muito bem avaliado pela comissão técnico do Porto. Por isso, o defensor corintiano é um dos principais alvos da equipe portuguesa para a próxima temporada e tem grandes chances de defender os Dragões.

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+Saiba quais os atletas da base que mais integram os profissionais do Corinthians com Vítor Pereira

A busca do Porto por zagueiros vem da possível saída do congolês Chancel Mbemba, que tem contrato com a equipe lusitana até esta quinta-feira (30).

Há boas chances de os Dragões buscarem dois defensores nesta janela de transferências. Ainda que a comissão do técnico Sérgio Conceição goste do brasileiro, o sonho para a posição é o garoto David Carmo, de 22 anos, que está no Braga. No entanto, o negócio é visto como difícil de se concretizar.

+ TABELA – Confira e simule os jogos do Corinthians no Brasileirão

Mas essa situação não significa que João Victor seja um plano B para o time português, que vê Pepe, aos 39 anos, em fim de carreira e com contrato por somente mais uma temporada.

Com isso, existem chances do Porto contratar João e Carmo, ainda que o negócio com o defensor corintiano seja visto como mais possível, por conta dos valores.

O Braga faz jogo duro e pede 30 milhões de euros (R$ 166,1 mi, na cotação atual) por David Carmo, quantia considerada inviável para os portistas. O montante pedido representa metade do que o Corinthians deseja receber por João Victor.

Ainda assim, há uma discussão da direção corintiana com o Porto referente à porcentagem do jogador. Atualmente, o Timão possui 55% dos direitos econômicos do atleta, enquanto o Coimbra, clube de Minas Gerais, tem os 45% restante.

A diretoria dos Dragões acha 15 milhões de euros (R$ 83 mi, na cotação atual) um valor muito alto por 55% do atleta, mas aposta na boa relação que tem com o banco BMG, que administra o Coimbra, para fechar um acordo que envolva a totalidade dos direitos de João Victor.

Dentro do Corinthians há a percepção de que pode chegar em uma pedida de 10 milhões de euros (R$ 55,3 mi, na cotação atual) por João, já que a venda do zagueiro será importante para o clube alvinegro alcançar a meta de vendas de R$ 91,5 milhões.

Até o momento, o Corinthians arrecadou R$ 46,8, com jogadores negociados. O valor representa as vendas do meia Ederson, ao Salernitana-ITA, e do atacante Gabriel Pereira, ao New York City-EUA.

Leeds United are now likely to make a move for an “excellent” attacker if they are promoted from the Championship, with his club setting a £20m asking price, according to a report.

Leeds storming to promotion

Leeds’ dramatic turnaround against Sunderland earlier this month felt like a big moment in the season, with Pascal Struijk bagging a late double to secure a 2-1 victory against a fellow promotion-chasing side at Elland Road.

However, the Whites have since followed it up with an even more impressive win, defeating Sheffield United 3-1 away from home in a real statement victory last time out, moving five clear of the Blades at the top of the Championship table in the process.

Daniel Farke’s side have lost just three league games all season, and they have given themselves a great chance of returning to the top tier next season, but the manager will be aware of the need to strengthen in the summer if his side are to return to the Premier League.

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Some loan players have played a key role in Leeds’ promotion push, namely Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon, and there has been talk of a potential move to sign the latter player on a permanent basis in the summer.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, it is now likely the Championship leaders will enter negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur over a deal for Solomon, should they achieve their aim of promotion to the top flight.

Spurs are willing to sanction the winger’s departure this summer, but he could be a relatively expensive signing for the Whites, as the asking price is now believed to be £20m, which is an increase from the previously reported number between £10m and £15m.

Everton have also been named as potential suitors for the 25-year-old, who is keen on a return to the Premier League, so there may be competition for his signature.

Solomon has been "excellent" in 2025

The Israeli’s loan spell got off to a slow start, often being utilised as a substitute, while also missing a number of matches due to a hamstring injury, but he has been in red-hot form in 2025.

The Spurs loanee has now amassed 14 goal contributions in the Championship, with eight of those coming since the turn of the year, having now established himself as a regular starter.

CBS Sports’ Jake Winderman lauded the left-winger as “excellent” for his performance against Norwich City, and he has also put in some impressive performances in the top flight in the past, scoring four Premier League goals for Fulham in the 2022-23 campaign.

As such, there are signs that Solomon is ready to make the step-up back to the Premier League, so Leeds should definitely pursue a move this summer, although a fee of £20m for a player with very limited top-level experience feels a little high.

Liverpool may have made contact with a European club over the signing of their “monster in the making” in the January transfer window, with a summer move to Anfield still possible.

Latest Liverpool news

The Reds suffered a rare off day on Sunday afternoon, crashing out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage, following a 1-0 defeat away to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.

In the grand scheme of things, the result was no disaster for Liverpool, with Arne Slot ringing the changes at Home Park, ahead of a vital Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening. Still, being eliminated from any competition is never ideal for momentum and confidence.

In terms of Red-related transfer news, the Merseysiders are believed to be pushing to complete the signing of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer. The 27-year-old could be made surplus to requirements at the end of the season, so Slot may look to pounce.

Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko, who Slot knows well from their time working together, has also been linked with a move to Liverpool, being seen as a possible long-term heir to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence. He has started 20 league games his season, averaging 2.8 clearances and 1.6 aerial duel wins per match.

Liverpool contacted club over defensive signings

According to a new update from Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], Liverpool contacted Benfica over the potential signing of defenders Alvaro Carreras and Tomas Araujo in the January window, although it isn’t specified who the Reds wanted out of the two.

While the Reds were unable to sign the left-back and centre-back, respectively, a summer deal still looks possible for one or the other. Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also mentioned in the report with an interest in either defender.

A new left-back is essential for Liverpool in the summer, considering Andy Robertson turns 31 soon and Kostas Tsimikas arguably isn’t the long-term answer in that position. In Carreras, the Reds could have an ideal option to bring in, having already become such a key player for Benfica, making 49 appearances to date.

The 21-year-old has a £41.5m release clause in his contract, which seems relatively cheap in the modern game, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as a “monster in the making” recently, further highlighting his talent.

Bournemouth ace Milos Kerkez is the same age and arguably looks like the strongest target, mainly because he already has Premier League experience, but the Benfica man could be right near the top of the list, too.

Meanwhile, centre-back also has to be an area of focus for Liverpool, considering Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger and Ibrahima Konate is injury-prone, and Araujo stands out as an exciting signing.

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The 22-year-old is already an influential figure for Benfica, averaging 2.2 aerial wins per game in the Primeira Liga this season, and completing 86.% of his passes in the Champions League. He would be a long-term acquisition who could also battle to be a starter from the off.

John Eustace’s dramatic managerial appointment was meant to swiftly turn around Derby County’s fortunes, but the ex-Blackburn Rovers boss’ arrival onto the scene hasn’t sparked a run of victories just yet.

Instead, the consistent losses that saw Paul Warne be relieved from his duties have continued on, with Eustace tasting back-to-back losses in the Rams hot-seat since taking on the reins.

Results really do need to pick up soon from the perspective of the relegation candidates, with a hope that Jerry Yates can get back to his best in-front of goal soon to try and guide his team out of their tricky predicament.

Yates' hot-and-cold form for Derby

Amazingly, despite only scoring two strikes across his last ten Championship outings, the ex-Blackpool striker remains Derby’s most potent goalscorer this season.

In total, Yates has helped himself to seven goals and three assists across 31 second-tier contests, with a need for the Doncaster-born attacker to stop fluffing his lines now to steer his team to some vital wins.

This acrobatic effort back in November was the pick of the bunch from Yates’ red-hot Rams form, but these sensational attacking displays have been nowhere to be seen as of late, with Eustace’s men firing blanks across his opening two games in charge.

Unfortunately, away from the 28-year-old, there is a severe lack of goalscoring heroes at the new boss’ disposal, with this ex-Rams star – who was once front and centre of Frank Lampard’s Premier League-aspiring side – even managing to outscore every Derby player this season bar Yates, despite long spells on the sidelines for his new team owing to injury.

The ex-Derby star outscoring every player bar Yates

Once upon a time, Derby were regularly challenging for promotion up to the top flight, away from their current task of staying put in the second tier.

Under Lampard during the 2018/19 season, the Rams very nearly rose up to the promised land, with Jack Marriott an exciting and daring attacker the Derby boss could rely on.

Unfortunately for Lampard and Co, a playoff final versus Aston Villa would prove to be a bridge too far, but Marriott would still round off that campaign with a strike at Wembley, bumping up his total during his debut season in Derbyshire to a promising 13 in all competitions.

After that season – similar to the football club in the years that followed – Marriott’s playing days would slightly unravel, with a meagre three strikes greeting him the campaign after, leading to him becoming somewhat of an EFL nomad when departing Pride Park for good in 2021 on a free transfer.

The “top class” ace – as he was once hailed by Lampard – even had to drop down to League Two temporarily with current employers Wrexham, but this has proven to be an inspired move by the injury-prone attacker.

Indeed, this season so far, Marriott has chipped in with five league goals from 16 games as his much-talked-about team gun for back-to-back promotions all the way up to Derby’s level.

Player

Games played

Goals scored

1. Jerry Yates

31

7

2. Ebou Adams

32

4

3. Kayden Jackson

34

3

= 4. Matthew Clarke

19

2

= 4. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing

34

2

Amazingly, despite being missing for 18 clashes this season due to a broken fibula, Marriott’s efforts would put him in the silver medal position in Derby’s top goalscorers, with Kayden Jackson enduring a deeply frustrating campaign on the contrary, with two fewer goals than his counterpart from 18 more encounters.

Eustace will hope his team can sort out their deficiencies in front of goal promptly, whilst Marriott will strive to gain more minutes into his legs to increase his own tally in League One.

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