0.1 Amir to Aaron Jones, FOUR runs Amir starts with the wide one but Jones is able to reach it. It was slow and into the pitch, slashed wide of third for four. Big advantage for USA!0.2 Amir to Aaron Jones, 2 runs Nails the on-pace yorker but Jones manages to skilfully drill the flick through midwicket. They scamper back for two as well0.3 Amir to Aaron Jones, 1 runPakistan, like they did at the death, go with the yorker plan. This is nailed. Pace-on again. Jones can’t do nothin with that. Jams it a foot or two in front but that allows a scampered single0.4 Amir to Harmeet Singh, 2 wide Amir misses his line (and length) and concedes a wide plus bye. Could have been worse but Harmeet missed the flick on the low full toss going down leg. Rizwan can’t collect cleanly, they run one0.4 Amir to Aaron Jones, 1 run Jones goes across to try and get inside the line. Gets a low full toss at the stumps, flicks it to deep square leg. Just a single0.5 Amir to Harmeet Singh, 2 wide Amir misses, Harmeet misses. Everyone’s disappointed but this is in USA’s favour. Low full toss swung down leg, went past the attempted flick. Another bye stolen0.5 Amir to Aaron Jones, 2 runs Into the pitch, wide too. Jones connects with the cut. Sweeper runs to the right, Amir yells as they return for the second on the throw (which was to the keeper’s end)0.6 Amir to Aaron Jones, 3 wide 5head leave from Jones. Buzzers too, USA are doing this with unforced errors. Jones cleared the front leg but saw the fullish ball, going away with the angle, to be outside the tramline and let it pass. The batters ran as Rizwan lobbed it high up, too far for Amir to collect but no one backing up either. They steal two byes!0.6 Amir to Aaron Jones, 1 run, OUT Amir looks for the yorker. It’s at the stumps and is clipped through square leg. Jones returns for the second, which is never on, and fails to make it. But he had to of course

****

0.1 Netravalkar to Iftikhar, no run Iftikhar gets across, and the bowler follows. Netravalkar goes fullish and angles it across, with the ball finishing wide of off. But Iftikhar was far too across as he attempted to loft, but missed. So wide not called0.2 Netravalkar to Iftikhar, FOUR runs Thumped between long-on and deep midwicket! Netravalkar bowled on a length on middle and off, but Iftikhar waited before pulling hard in the gap for four0.3 Netravalkar to Iftikhar, 1 wide This is a wide! This time Ifthikar doesn’t move much, and sees this yorker-length ball wide of off go past him. He leaves it alone, and it is given wide0.3 Netravalkar to Iftikhar, OUT Wow, superb catch! Sub fielder Milind Kumar takes a great catch! Placed at long-off, he took a few steps forward before going low and grabbing it barely above the ground. The final verdict will be given by the third umpire, though. He sees multiple replays, with the ball almost hinting to drop off his hands on impact. Now the TV umpire looks at it from a different angle. The ball is dipping and dying on to Milind, who uses both his hands to try and catch that. And after much ado, it is given out! This is what had happened earlier: Netravalkar had bowled a low full toss, which was angling across towards off, as Ifthikar launched down the ground. But the length seemed too full for him to fireIftikhar Ahmed c Kumar b Netravalkar 4 (3b 1×4 0x6)0.4 Netravalkar to Shadab, 1 wide And it is another wide. This is angled across, and lands on a yorker length wide of off. Shadab lets it go0.4 Netravalkar to Shadab, 4 leg byes Ohh, lucky four for Pakistan! Shadab got across the stumps to try and sweep this, but the ball dribbled off his toes between the keeper and short third0.5 Netravalkar to Shadab, 2 runs Ahh, well bowled! This is a nice yorker angling across towards middle and off, and Shadab is able to loft it only as far as between long-off and long-on. They pinch two0.6 Netravalkar to Shadab, 1 run USA win by five runs! The first upset of the 2024 T20 World Cup. The USA players make their presence feel by yelling their feelings out. Their dugout is up in celebration and ecstacy, even as the Pakistan dressing room is left wondering what would have been.

Newcastle United have spluttered their way into life this summer, starting to show signs of activity in the transfer market.

The feel-good factor was in full swing after Eddie Howe led the Magpies to a top-five Premier League finish, sealing United’s place in the Champions League, having also won the Carabao Cup back in March.

But the gears are indeed beginning to move. A £45m offer has been rejected for Nottingham Forest right winger Anthony Elanga, while efforts are ongoing for Brighton & Hove Albion’s versatile forward Joao Pedro, who is expected to leave the AMEX this summer.

Newcastle line up Joao Pedro alternative

Pedro, 23, would be a wonderful addition, having posted 30 goals and ten assists across 70 matches for the Seagulls.

His high-powered approach to the attacking game would see him act both as a foil for Alexander Isak and indeed a complementary force, sitting in behind or out on the left.

However, Chelsea are also keen, and an alternative pick has been drafted up.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to Football Insider, Newcastle are hoping to sign Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on loan if INEOS fail to ship the England winger off on a permanent basis this summer and are advancing in their efforts to do so.

Valued at £40m, Barcelona are also interested in the £300k-per-week Rashford, who will need to take a pay cut if he is to leave Old Trafford.

However, Howe is curious about a deal, enticed by the 27-year-old’s versatility, capable both as a left-sided and central forward.

Why Newcastle should sign Marcus Rashford

Rashford has been through the wringer in recent years, but despite his trials and tribulations, he remains an immensely talented and explosive player.

If Howe can capture his natural qualities and direct them in a way befitting Newcastle’s project, he could secure an excellent addition to add depth and dynamism to his offensive ranks.

And given Rashford’s versatility, he might be the perfect alternative to Pedro, bringing a goalscoring predilection that has earned such acclaim in the past.

You need only look at his top-flight record through the years to see exactly how good a player the Toon would get if they got him back to his A-game.

Marcus Rashford – Prem Stats by Season (last 6 years)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

25

6

4

23/24

33

7

3

22/23

35

17

6

21/22

25

4

2

20/21

37

11

13

19/20

31

17

9

Stats via Transfermarkt

It’s true that the Three Lions star has lost his way, but Howe has one of the sharpest tactical minds in the country and has demonstrated over a number of years on Tyneside his ability to raise the level of his wide players.

Let’s not forget that across two seasons in his career, Rashford has recorded 17-goal hauls in the Premier League, and he was hailed as a “goal machine” by journalist Mazola Molefe only two years ago.

That player still exists, with a balanced and somewhat selfless version revealed at least in part during his short-term stint with Villa, hitting ten goal involvements from just 17 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, Rashford actually ranked among the top 14% of positional peers in the Premier League last term for goals scored per 90 (0.38), emphasising the prowess that would surely be enhanced in such a fluent Tyneside system.

The Brazilian Pedro is a good player, but he hasn’t yet proved himself capable of reaching the heights we all know Rashford has in his locker.

Is he approaching the last-chance saloon? Maybe not, but he’ll know that Howe will demand plenty of him, and if it works out, it might just drive this incredible project toward the next degree of success.

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The win was set up by the South Africa fast bowlers, who combined to stop Netherlands at 103 for 9

Shashank Kishore08-Jun-20242:46

Miller: I knew I had to finish the game

South Africa made heavy weather of a modest chase in New York before David Miller and Tristan Stubbs dug deep to save them from a third straight defeat at Netherlands’ hands at an ICC tournament.Miller and Stubbs added 65 for the fifth wicket to lift them from the pits of 12 for 4 on a pitch that didn’t play anywhere as badly as the scorecard suggested, even though there was enough in it for quick bowlers – 13 of the 15 wickets fell to them, while there were two run outs.As he walked out to bat, Miller might have had a flashback of Adelaide 2022, where his wicket, with 47 needed off 28 balls, shut the door on South Africa and gave Netherlands a 13-run win. On Saturday, Miller stayed the course and remained unbeaten on 59, flicking on his best six-hitting self in the penultimate over with South Africa needing 16 off 12.In the end, in a game where 209 runs were scored in 38.5 overs, South Africa won with enough to spare.Vivian Kingma struck twice in the powerplay•AFP/Getty Images

The South African meltdownQuinton de Kock was run out without facing a ball. Reeza Hendricks got a peach from Logan van Beek that angled in and straightened to hit the top of off. Vivian Kingma had the first of a double when he strangled Aiden Markram down leg to leave South Africa 3 for 3. And when Heinrich Klaasen’s rush of blood had him picking out Tim Pringle attempting a pull off Kingma, Netherlands dared to dream – or maybe just expected the expected, considering the recent results between the two sides at ICC events.Miller and Stubbs take overBoth Miller and Stubbs are instinctive batters who love taking the bowlers on. But the situation they walked out to was not for that sort of batting, it was a crisis. A mis-step could have meant curtains. So they chose caution, saw off the powerplay without any further damage, and hit only a further two boundaries until the ten-over mark to leave South Africa needing 72 off the last ten overs.Stubbs was on 9 off 21 at this point, struggling to force the pace, especially when the ball was dug in to the pitch. A hint of grip for the spinners also made it difficult for him to hit out. So when Bas de Leede came on in the 11th, Stubbs gave him the charge and enjoyed a massive slice of luck as a thick inside edge flew wide of the midwicket fielder.Miller, too, rode some luck. A big hit down the ground off left-arm spinner Pringle only just eluded the long-on fielder in the 12th over with South Africa still needing 57 off 50.Stubbs finally shrug off the pressure that had built around him with a hoick for six off Vikramjit Singh, and then launched van Beek down the ground three balls later to turn the tide South Africa’s way.David Miller and Tristan Stubbs put on a match-winning 65-run stand for the fifth wicket•ICC/Getty Images

Miller lands the finishing blowsIt should have been a smooth ride from there, with South Africa needing 29 off 30. But there was another twist. First, Paul van Meekeren delivered a maiden over to Miller, and the pressure showed when Stubbs holed out to deep midwicket in the next, off Bas de Leede. Then, in the 18th, van Beek came back after being walloped for six by Miller to dismiss Marco Jansen.But, with South Africa needing 16 off 12, de Leede erred in line. Miller began the penultimate over by dispatching a half-tracker over fine leg, and then finished the game with a sequence of 2, 0, 4 and 6 – cue a roar and wild fist pumping.Miller had tamed the demons of Adelaide 2022.Sybrand Engelbrecht top-scored for Netherlands after walking out at a ricky time•ICC/Getty Images

Engelbrecht props up NetherlandsSybrand Engelbrecht, who represented South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 and only recently made his Netherlands’ debut, top-scored with a 45-ball 40 on surface where the next best among the top seven was 12.At the toss, Netherlands were put in to bat seemingly because South Africa wanted to exploit the morning conditions, and had them tottering at 32 for 4. South Africa’s four-pronged pace attack, led by Marco Jansen, was breathing fire at that stage, with pace and bounce off the pitch for assistance.South Africa’s hostility didn’t end there, with Ottneil Baartman and Anrich Nortje ensuring there weren’t any freebies. This resulted in Netherlands attempting to manufacture strokes, like Scott Edwards did when he executed a reverse scoop for six, but they simply didn’t have enough.It came down to Englebrecht’s patient knock and his 54-run association with van Beek to get them into three figures. It would have been inadequate on most days, but Netherlands can give themselves a pat on the back for making a match out of it to keep Group D very open.

Ange Postecoglou cemented his legacy at Tottenham Hotspur when he led his side to glory in the Europa League last season, ending 17 years of searching for silverware down N17.

However, Spurs’ 17th-place finish in the Premier League pass judgment on Postecoglou’s tenure, ending his time in the dugout after two campaigns that were fraught with setbacks but charged by excitement.

Now, with Thomas Frank at the helm, Tottenham will hope to build on last year’s success and establish themselves as one of the most dangerous clubs in England once again, having sealed their place in the Champions League too.

Matches

76

152

Wins

31

54

Draws

11

38

Losses

34

60

Goals scored

138

228

Goals conceded

126

224

Points

104

200

PPG

1.37

1.32

Daniel Levy will no doubt be doing some soul-searching after making the contentious call, but in Frank, the Londoners have bagged a manager capable of shaping talented players into shining stars.

The Danish tactician will relish the chance to work with Tottenham’s crew, but he will need to be backed this summer, strengthening the squad with one or two attacking additions.

Spurs lining up attacking signings

Sure, Tottenham need reinforcements across the park, but with Heung-min Son entering the autumn of his career and attracting interest from suitors in the Middle East, fresh recruits are needed.

The 20-year-old Mathys Tel’s loan move has been wrapped up for £30m, which could prove a shrewd deal indeed, but there’s little question that more is needed, both out wide and as support for striker Dominic Solanke.

Looking at the flanks, West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus is available after a difficult campaign in east London, while L’Equipe have recently reported Lilywhites interest in AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche, who is valued at around €60m (£51m).

Bryan Mbeumo has also been at the centre of talks, and Frank would love nothing more than a reunion with his Brentford talisman. However, the prolific Cameroon international’s preference is to sign for Man United this summer.

No matter, Tottenham appear to have found their dream alternative.

Spurs make contact for Premier League star

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed that Tottenham have made an official enquiry for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. However, Daniel Levy has no intention of meeting the £70m asking price.

Man United are also keen but are in the same camp as Spurs, albeit they are leaning toward Mbeumo. With Semenyo thought to be keen on the move to north London, though, this one’s hardly dead in the water.

Saying that, the Cherries are under no pressure to sell after offloading Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez.

Why Spurs should sign Antoine Semenyo

Bournemouth signed Semenyo from Bristol City for a smart £10.5m fee in January 2023, and has since gone from strong to stronger under the wing of Andoni Iraola.

Indeed, across the past two Premier League campaigns, the versatile winger has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists, underlaying his output with sharp, dynamic movements and a tenacious defensive attitude.

His completeness suggests Semenyo could even prove an upgrade on Brennan Johnson, 24, who is one of Tottenham’s most prolific players but is guilty of drifting in and out of games, waning at points.

Two seasons into his career down N17, the Welshman posted 18 goals and seven assists last term, the most notable of which was the bundled-in winner to seal the Europa League title.

But he needs to do more across the wider game. As per Sofascore, Johnson averaged just 0.6 dribbles, 2.8 successful duels, and 0.6 key passes over last year’s top-flight season, also creating just four big chances across his 33 appearances (24 of which were starts).

Transfer Focus

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

Semenyo, however, is far more complete. Not only did he score 11 goals and add five assists in the league (Johnson’s haul was as follows: 11 goals, three assists), but the forward also averaged 1.9 dribbles, 6.1 duels, and 4.3 ball recoveries per game.

This suggests that the Cherries sensation could offer more to the team with his all-round game on the flank in comparison to Johnson’s limited performances.

Described as a “duel monster” and a “workhorse off the ball” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Bournemouth man is perfectly aligned with Frank’s vision, especially when considering he plays in a similar fashion to Mbeumo.

Indeed, FBref record the Englishman to be of a statistical likeness to the Bees star, ranked as he was among the top 5% of the Premier League’s attacking midfielders and wingers last year for shots taken, the top 20% for successful take-ons and the top 8% for aerials won per 90.

Right winger

46

13

3

Left winger

29

7

5

Centre-forward

6

1

0

Semenyo’s versatility has seen him provide a potent output both on the left and the right wing for Bournemouth, with his teammate Lewis Cook hailing his “aggressive” and “clinical” qualities.

Such praise underlines the Ghana international’s suitability for a place in a Tottenham team hoping to cement themselves among Europe’s elite for years to come while challenging for major honours with a newfound taste for triumph.

Of course, Johnson is hardly allergic to playing a definitive role in sealing silverware – just hark back to the Europa League final – but across the wider span of the campaign, Tottenham supporters cannot contest the fact that there was a consistent lack of consistency and fluency that led to the lowly Premier League finish.

Semenyo would change that, dovetailing into Frank’s new Spurs system and rising to become the astute manager’s new version of Mbeumo.

This wouldn’t necessarily relegate Johnson to the backbenches, for the transfer target is competent across both wings, but there’s no doubt that he would add a dimension which his counterpart has yet to unlock in its entirety.

Much depends on whether Levy can whittle down Bournemouth’s hefty £70m fee. If the shrewd businessman can do so, he would strengthen the new Tottenham project and then some.

Dream Son heir: Spurs set to enter bidding war for "generational" £50m star

The talented youngster could be a superstar at Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 20, 2025

Newcastle United will play Champions League football once again next season, but Eddie Howe will certainly know that first-team signings are needed if his side are to make headway after an extraordinary year.

Top five was secured, as was the Carabao Cup trophy after an incredible performance against Liverpool, who so dominantly won the Premier League.

Somehow, Howe achieved the feats with limited attacking options, but he’s seeking to rectify that in the summer transfer market.

Newcastle looking at Elanga alternative

Indeed, despite a slow start, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed on Wednesday that the Magpies have seen a £45m offer rejected for Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.

The Tricky Trees have no intention of selling, and while Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth and West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus have been also discussed, there’s another winger on British shores who could move to Tyneside this summer.

As per Football Insider, Celtic are determined to keep Nicolas Kuhn beyond the summer transfer window, although it’s anticipated that Newcastle and German club RB Leipzig will push to swipe his signature.

Brendan Rodgers considers the 25-year-old one of his most valuable players, but offers in and around £20m would likely be accepted by the Scottish champions.

Given the amount of money offered to Forest for Elanga, this might prove an incredibly shrewd piece of business for a Newcastle side boasting the fluent tactical conditions for such a player to flourish.

What Nicolas Kuhn could bring to Newcastle

Kuhn, who played for Ajax and Bayern Munich in his youth, joined Celtic from Rapid Vienna for just £3m in January 2024, and his stock has since risen considerably.

With 42 goal involvements from 68 matches across all competitions, the German winger hasn’t done too badly, even hailed for his “breathtaking” technical quality by Marvin Bartley.

With such sharp pace and dribbling skills, Kuhn fits the bill from a tactical perspective, with Howe questing for such a profile to add competition for the industrious Jacob Murphy on the right flank.

As you can see below, the Celtic star definitely boasts faculties that rival those of Elanga, albeit having performed his duties at a level of lower quality in the Scottish Premiership.

Matches (starts)

32 (24)

38 (31)

Goals

13

6

Assists

9

11

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.8)

1.2 (0.6)

Big chances missed

9

6

Pass completion

77%

78%

Big chances created

11

9

Key passes*

1.6

1.3

Dribbles*

1.8

0.7

Tackles*

1.2

0.5

Duels won*

3.5

3.0

But even so, the winger takes things in his stride and likes to be in the thick of the action, making things happen. Moreover, his tenacious approach has led to impressive defensive metrics, always chipping in with tackles and duels.

He also carries the ball forward with regularity, although it must be said that Elanga’s low average in that regard is largely due to the pragmatic nature of Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactics.

Ultimately, Newcastle could find that they could sign a dynamic forward in Kuhn who is capable of special things, and for a portion of the price that Elanga would be available for.

Given the underlying strengths that point in the Hoops man’s favour, it might not turn out to be a bad thing for a Newcastle side in need of reinforcements across a wealth of positions.

He's an Isak clone: Newcastle start discussions to sign £50m "superstar"

Newcastle have enquired about signing their next Alexander Isak.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jun 23, 2025

Liverpool have a proud tradition of identifying premium talent and bringing them through to the first team, and they could now be about to repeat the trick if reports are to be believed.

Liverpool continue train of arrivals after big-money deals

It goes without saying, but Liverpool have enjoyed a fantastic start to the window after confirming the arrivals of Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Armin Pecsi.

Despite Giorgi Mamardashvili officially linking up with the Reds after signing last summer, the Premier League champions are also set to sign Freddie Woodman to occupy their third-choice goalkeeper role, and he will fill a homegrown player slot into the bargain.

Not to be deterred after an early flurry, Liverpool have eyes on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi as an alternative to Jarell Quansah, once the AXA Training Centre graduate officially completes his move to Bayer Leverkusen.

Sending out a warning to their title rivals, new Reds full-back Kerkez believes his side are primed for more success, after his new side brought a second title of the modern era to Anfield last term.

He stated: “Yeah, definitely. This is a club that wants to win, needs to win. Of course, it’s a big thing last season, completely dominated everyone, I think, and of course, big congratulations.

Liverpool’s first five fixtures of the new season

Crystal Palace (N)

FA Community Shield

Bournemouth (H)

Premier League

Newcastle United (A)

Premier League

Arsenal (A)

Premier League

Burnley (H)

Premier League

“But always, you know, you need to want more, and definitely from last season, I think this season the club is going to build on it and only get a lot better.”

However, building for the future will also form an important part of Liverpool’s long-term sustainability, and they are now reportedly close to bringing in a rising star to strengthen their youth ranks.

Liverpool reportedly agree deal to sign Gabriel Schluter

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Gabriel Schluter from Blackpool for a six-figure sum, and he is set to undergo a medical next week ahead of finalising a switch.

His performances for the Seasiders at youth level have attracted the interest of several different clubs, including the likes of Fulham and Stockport County.

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 26, 2025

At just 16 years of age, the left-winger made his first-team debut for Blackpool against Liverpool’s Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy, though he will almost certainly be viewed as one for the future if he completes a move to Anfield.

Harvey Elliot, Conor Bradley and Stefan Bajcetic are prime examples of youngsters who have been bought at a young age before being developed into senior stars, and it appears the Reds have spied an opportunity to carry out the same practice with Schluter.

Aston Villa are set for a busy summer after missing out on Champions League football, but they may now be in position to strike for a talented winger from the continent.

Aston Villa run rule over Rashford and Asensio alternatives

Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio were both instrumental signings from Unai Emery in January, though landing either on a permanent basis may prove difficult after having to settle for a place in the Europa League next term.

Admittedly, Emiliano Martinez departing to ease pressure on Aston Villa’s PSR situation could create some room for manouvre on that front if he leaves before the June 30th deadline.

Talks have been held to sign Asensio and both parties feel a return to Villa Park for the Spain international makes sense, though it remains to be seen if the financial realities of such a scenario stand the test of time.

In the meantime, seeking out alternatives appears to be a smart move from Aston Villa, who have placed Tyler Dibling high on their radar and watched him several times in a campaign where he became a shining light at Southampton.

Similarities have been cited between the Saints’ playmaker and Villans target Jack Grealish amid news that Emery is interested in bringing the Three Lions international back to his former stomping ground.

Aston Villa’s top five scorers in 2024/25 – should they add to their forward line?

Ollie Watkins

17

Morgan Rogers

14

Jhon Duran

12

Marco Asensio

8

Youri Tielemans

5

Such a move would be bound to provoke a mix of excitement and trepidation in equal measure. However, plenty of other names will begin to circulate in connection with Aston Villa as the window begins to heat up.

Like clockwork, Emery’s men are now interested in yet another wide-man and have reportedly started to make advances on that front.

Aston Villa register interest in Real Betis star Jesus Rodriguez

According to Spanish reports, Aston Villa are circling for Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez and have moved to register their interest, therefore making contact with the Europa Conference League finalists regarding his situation.

The outlet relay that RB Leipzig have submitted an offer mooted to be in the region of £16.8 million for his services. However, it is noted that he has a release clause of £29.4 million, which is possibly a more realistic price-tag. Manchester United and Liverpool have also been mentioned as suitors.

Aston Villa now ready to offer major deal to sign £50m Mozambique winger

He could replace Marcus Rashford.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 4, 2025

Monchi and company don’t want to miss a market opportunity like Rodriguez, and the Spain Under-21 international’s running style has been likened to Gareth Bale’s unique presence, giving an inkling of what fans could expect if he does end up at Villa Park.

This campaign, the Seville-born talent has registered five goals and four assists in 44 appearances and is very much one for the future at 19-years-old.

With Aston Villa set for changes this summer, Rodriguez could provide some youthful exuberance on either flank as Emery looks to challenge the elite and make strides in Europe.

With The Friedkin Group looking to make some impressive statements in their first summer at the helm, Everton are reportedly ready to open talks to sign a Premier League-winning attacker.

Everton announce retained list

With the Premier League season concluded and the summer now underway, Everton have announced the list of players they remain in negotiations with in pursuit of fresh deals at the club. The Merseyside club confirmed that they are set to offer new deals to Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gana Gueye, whilst negotiations are ongoing with the representatives of both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane.

Everton make approach for £29m McNeil upgrade who Van Dijk called "difficult"

Everton are planning to make some attacking changes in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 9, 2025

Announcing the news in a statement on their official website, Everton said: “The club is offering new contracts to Seamus Coleman and Idrissa Gana Gueye, while we continue to liaise with representatives of Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the current deals of all four players expiring at the end of June.

“As previously confirmed, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young, Joao Virginia, Asmir Begovic, Mason Holgate and Neal Maupay will leave Everton when their current contracts expire at the end of this month, with loanees Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrøm, Orel Mangala and Armando Broja returning to their parent clubs.”

Calvert-Lewin’s situation is particularly one to watch. Concerns over his Everton future have been rumbling on for some time now and links to the likes of Manchester United have hardly helped speculation. Now, into the final weeks of his current deal, the Toffees are still attempting to secure the forward’s future at the club.

What Calvert-Lewin’s departure would do, however, is clear room for potential arrivals. And that could yet include a Premier League winner for David Moyes this summer. In an impressive move, Friedkin have reportedly set their sights on welcoming a wantaway attacking addition who could revive his career in Merseyside.

Everton ready to open talks to sign Grealish

According to TeamTalk, Everton are now ready to open talks to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City in a complex deal, having already identified the winger as a transfer target in recent weeks. The deal won’t come cheap, though, even if the Toffees secure the loan deal that they prefer to a permanent deal.

Grealish reportedly earns a hefty £300,000-a-week at Manchester City, which translates into £15.6m-a-year. Whether Everton are both willing to match that salary and can afford to spend such a price will be the big question this summer, especially since Grealish would instantly become their highest earner by some distance.

Everton’s Wage Bill with Jack Grealish	Salary P/W
Jack Grealish	£300,000
Jordan Pickford	£130,000
Idrissa Gueye (*offered new deal)	£120,000
Dominic Calvert-Lewin	£100,000
James Tarkowski	£100,000

Earning over double Everton’s current highest-earner in Pickford, Grealish would simply have to rediscover his very best form to make any deal worthwhile for the Toffees next season.

At his best, the former Aston Villa man has earned some impressive praise, including from Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City boss dubbed Grealish “aggressive” following a pre-season draw with Barcelona last summer, only to limit the Englishman’s game time in the months that followed.

With India playing their three Super Eight games at different venues in the span in five days, adjusting quickly to conditions will be crucial

Sidharth Monga19-Jun-20246:54

We’ve pushed the needle forward with our batting – Dravid

As this India leadership group starts its last two weeks at the helm, it is a good time to look back. Their biggest legacy will be dragging India towards modern limited-overs batting. Look at its biggest manifestation: Virat Kohli is a much better T20 batter while retaining qualities that made him an ODI great. In India, though, legacy is judged by ICC trophies. That unfortunately remains the yardstick for a team now used to staying among the best at other times.In what has been a bit of an irony, what seems like a last hurrah for Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma at helm and will eventually decide how fondly they are remembered by the wider public, their real legacy of pushing the aggression envelope has had to take a back seat. Two of their biggest hitters, their modern T20 batters, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, have had to play like they would in the middle overs of an ODI.”Like you rightly said, a lot of the impetus over the last few years – and I think we’ve done it in most parts – has been to push the needle forward,” Dravid said. “If you look at a lot of our stats and numbers, we have pushed the needle forward in terms of our batting.”There’s no question about it. Sometimes in certain conditions – you’ve just got to be mindful of conditions also. I think sometimes we just get carried away in T20 cricket and just talking about pushing the needle forward, pushing the needle forward. But then, it’s also, cricket is a very condition-specific game. It’s one of the only sports left where the surface makes such an impact on the actual skill levels, the actual performance levels, what is an acceptable performance level. It’s one sport that we play where the surface makes a huge difference and it has to be brought into consideration at all times.Related

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“I think we saw that in the US, and we saw that in New York, that had to be brought into consideration not only for us but for other teams as well. I think everyone had to do that. Actually, even in Australia [during the last T20 World Cup], there were times where you had to bring that into consideration. Not every wicket is Hyderabad or not every wicket can be the same. So, I think that’s something we pride ourselves in as well. I think we are trying to also get that ability to be smart in our decision making, to try and assess situations cleverly.”If India get the kind of pitches they had in New York, they are favourites. In the Super Eight, though, they, like most other teams, will have to deal with the unpredictability of new conditions in every match in the West Indies, and quickly decide how to approach their innings. In cricket’s other formats, batting is a reactive exercise: the bowlers start the action, and batters react to the merit of the delivery. In T20, the batters’ approach plays a bigger role. And it all depends on conditions.Rahul Dravid: Cricket is “one of the only sports left where the surface makes such an impact on the actual skill levels, the actual performance levels, what is an acceptable performance level.”•ICC/Getty ImagesIn a way, the previous two weeks of the T20 World Cup have been a bit of a lottery. You get put in, you take two extra overs to decide what a par score is, and you could be done for. That’s all it takes. That is likely what happened to Pakistan when they played USA. How do you mitigate the uncertainty, though? Dravid was asked exactly that a day before the start of India’s three Super Eight matches in five days in Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia.”We feel we’ve got the experience and the knowledge and also the ability to counteract different situations that may present themselves,” he said. “And then, of course, we are looking at things that the past games that have been played here, what have been the scores, what’s the level of swing that people are experiencing, amount of turn they’re getting, what’s the bounce. So, you look at all of these factors and you come up with some basic ideas.”But again, I think you’ve got to keep an open mind. I think that’s an important thing. You might have all the stats, you might have all the data, but on the day, sometimes conditions can be very different to what you think it is. Just because a particular ground has produced certain number of runs in the past or even 10 days prior, it can be very different because the preparation of a wicket, the weather, so much can change.”Even in the two or three days leading into a particular game, a lot can change that can force you to recalibrate and rethink. I think we will have to do that, be quick and smart and be able to do that and assess the conditions. I hope we will do that.”If New York was any indication, though, one change, though subtle, is clearly visible. India adjusted down instead of adjusting up. Err high rather than low. The top order, especially Kohli, showed enough faith in the batters to follow. It would have been easy for Kohli to play at a run a ball there but that is not his role. That seems to be the back-up option, and one for someone else to take. Nothing can guarantee success in T20 knockouts but that approach, provided they can manage to retain courage and indifference towards the end result, might just hold India in better stead than on previous attempts.

David Warner also helped revive the innings after a slugglish start against a spirited Oman side

Andrew McGlashan06-Jun-20241:24

How Australia’s history helps them in World Cups

Marcus Stoinis and David Warner extricated Australia from an uncertain position in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Oman with the result ultimately a comfortable 39-run win on a tricky Barbados pitch.When Glenn Maxwell fell for a golden duck, continuing his horror run with the bat, they were 50 for 3 and thoughts briefly turned to what could unfold but Stoinis and Warner added 102 off 64 balls to ensure Australia did not stumble early in their bid for ICC trophies across all three formats.Stoinis was dropped on 9 and then bludgeoned six sixes as he turned around a sluggish start with Oman’s bowlers keeping pressure on their big-name opponents for 14 overs. It was hard work for Warner, who became Australia’s leading run-scorer in men’s T20Is, but he used his experience to not throw the innings away.Australia were then largely efficient with the ball as Mitchell Starc struck in the opening over with an inswinging low full toss – although he was later unable to complete his spell as he left the field but it was confirmed as cramp – and Stoinis’ fine day continued as he added three wickets. Nathan Ellis, who had been selected ahead of the rested Pat Cummins, struck in his first over to claim a maiden World Cup wicket.Marcus Stoinis was in the thick of the action – both with ball and bat•ICC via Getty Images

Oman’s moment(s) to rememberFor well over half of Australia’s innings, this game was far from one-way traffic. Scoring was tough on a niggly surface and after the powerplay the total was 37 for 1 – Australia’s lowest in their last 15 T20Is dating back to the previous T20 World Cup. Head put away one well-timed cover drive early on but timing was hard work for him and Warner with Head picking out mid-off with a drive to lift Bilal Khan’s spirits after his Super Over disappointment against Namibia.Mitchell Marsh couldn’t get going before picking out long-on, then came Oman’s big moment. Maxwell, coming off an IPL where he averaged 5.77, drove at his first ball from Mehran Khan and Oman captain Aqib Ilyas dived full length to his left at cover to hold a spectacular catch. It was Maxwell’s fifth duck in 10 T20 innings.Stoinis takes his chanceStoinis survived the hat-trick ball but there was no immediate release of pressure for Australia. After ten overs they had crept to 56 for 3 with the next two overs only bringing seven runs. Warner began to break the shackles with consecutive boundaries off Zeeshan Maqsood, but then it was a case of what might have been for Oman.On 9, Stoinis edged a turning delivery from Ilyas which wicketkeeper Pratik Athavale could not gather – it was tough but not impossible. Two balls into the next over from Mehran, Ayaan Khan arguably paid the price for not being right on the rope at long-off when he held a good catch, but was unable to stop his backwards momentum taking him into the boundary.That was the first of four sixes Stoinis struck in the over and from there he was away, bringing up a half-century from 27 balls. Australia’s first 14 overs had brought 80 runs; the last six brought 84.Marcus Stoinis and David Warner scored fifties to boost Australia•Associated Press

Warner’s recordBefore this match, Ricky Ponting lauded the winning mentality of Warner as he closes out his international career and said he was the type of player needed at World Cups. He couldn’t quite move through the gears in the same manner as Stoinis but reached a 46-ball fifty having earlier gone past former captain Aaron Finch to top Australia’s run-scoring charts in the format. Finch, at the ground as a broadcaster, appreciated the moment. There was one unfortunate moment for him after being dismissed when he started to accidently walk into the Oman dressing room before being redirected.Professional Australia close it outA target of 165 was always likely to be beyond Oman. Starc’s opening over was a bit of a mixed bag but he pinned Athavale lbw when a low full toss hammered into the toe, although Australia needed the DRS to get the lbw decision. Oman were then grateful for the review system when Ilyas was given lbw to Starc but even live the on-field call from Joel Wilson looked a poor one.Ilyas deposited Stoinis for a six over deep square leg but two balls later edged a lifting delivery to Matthew Wade. Stoinis became only the third player, after Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo, to score a fifty and take three wickets in a men’s T20 World Cup match. However, Oman did not completely fade away as Ayaan provided a couple of moments of late defiance with two sixes off Adam Zampa while Mehran ensured they could cross 100 and bat out the innings.