All posts by h716a5.icu

Mehidy completed ten wickets in the game but Bennett and Curran laid a strong platform to enable the visitors to go 1-0 up

Mohammad Isam23-Apr-2025Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh by three wickets in an exciting finish on the fourth evening of the first Test in Sylhet to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. It was Zimbabwe’s fifth overseas Test victory, which came after they completed their highest successful chase in the fourth innings. It was also their first win in the last 11 Tests and each of their last three wins have come away from home.Blessing Muzarabani was the architect of the victory with a nine-wicket match haul, but it needed Wessly Madhevere and No. 9 Richard Ngarava to push Zimbabwe over the line after they collapsed when needing less than 50 runs in their chase. Mehidy Hasan Miraz orchestrated the collapse when he picked up his second five-wicket haul in the Test. He also took his 200th Test wicket on the way to a ten-for. Madhevere reverse-swept him to the boundary to get Zimbabwe to their 174-run target.Openers Brian Bennett and Ben Curran got Zimbabwe off to a rollicking start with a 95-run stand in just 21 overs. Curran, who struck seven fours in his 44 off 75 balls, was out to Mehidy, skying him to mid-off. No. 3 batter Nick Welch fell lbw to Taijul Islam for 10, before Sean Williams misread the bounce against Mehidy in the 31st over. He top-edged a simple catch to Najmul Hossain Shanto at cover for 9. That’s when trouble started, at 127 for 3.Mehidy Hasan Miraz sent jitters in the Zimbabwe camp with his second five-wicket haul in the Test•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the next over, Bennett was done in by Mehidy’s spin and was caught by Mushfiqur Rahim at deep mid-on. The big shot he attempted was a risky move in that situation as he was batting well on 54. He struck seven fours and a six in his 81-ball stay.Taijul next struck when he had Craig Ervine caught behind off a delivery that was sliding down the leg side. Mehidy convinced captain Shanto to take the review, Ultra-Edge showed a spike, and Ervine walked off for 10. Mehidy struck again first ball of his next over when he clean bowled Nyasha Mayavo for 1. Zimbabwe were now 145 for 6.Wellington Masakadza, however, settled Zimbabwe’s nerves with boundaries in consecutive overs from Taijul. He struck a big six down the ground soon after he arrived at the crease, before slamming him past mid-off for a four. But his innings was ended by a Mehidy beauty – pitching on a length around off stump from around the wicket and turning ever so slightly to bowl him for 12.After defending his first two balls, Ngarava smashed Mehidy for four over wide mid-on to reduce the target to nine runs. Madhevere hit Taijul for another four off the first ball of the next over. He repeated the dose against Mehidy before the win that will go into Zimbabwe cricket folklore was sealed.The Test win will, however, be most remembered for Muzarabani’s bowling excellence. He has now taken five-wicket hauls in his last three Tests, which has helped him equal Heath Streak’s record for the fastest to 50 Test wickets for Zimbabwe. His match figures of 9 for 122 is the best by a Zimbabwean in Bangladesh. Muzarabani also found great support at the other end, with fellow quicks Ngarava and Victor Nyauchi and left-arm spinner Masakadza taking the remaining four wickets in the second innings.Blessing Muzarabani shows off the match ball after his six-wicket haul•AFP/Getty ImagesRain gave Bangladesh a bit of reprieve as the fourth day began 75 minutes late. Zimbabwe, though, attacked from the get-go, taking three wickets in the first 5.3 overs of the morning session. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 255, having lost 6 for 62 on the day.Muzarabani struck with the second ball, dismissing Shanto on the pull. Nyauchi dived forward at fine leg to catch the top edge, ending Shanto’s innings at 60 off 105 balls. Mehidy followed his captain back to the pavilion soon after, edging Muzarabani to gully. Bennett took a simple catch as Muzarabani completed his five-for. Ngarava got into the act from the other end, removing Taijul in the next over.Hasan Mahmud’s rearguard action – 12 off 58 balls – stemmed the batting collapse. He added 35 runs for the eighth wicket with Jaker Ali, before holing out to mid-off where Muzarabani took an easy catch. Khaled Ahmed gave Ervine a catch next ball, as Masakadza again proved lethal for the Bangladesh tail.Muzarabani completed Zimbabwe’s dominant morning with Jaker’s wicket, when he top-edged a slog to deep midwicket. Jaker had been farming the strike for the previous hour, before opening up with just one wicket left. He had hit one six among his five boundaries and was eventually out for 58 off 111 balls.

Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton have been delayed in reporting for Brazil international duty, as the plane carrying the two Newcastle team-mates was forced to turn around due to a broken window. Both players are part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad to face South Korea and Japan and were expected to report in time for a training session this afternoon in Seoul.

Newcastle duo caught up in travel nightmare

The two team-mates were travelling from Amsterdam to Seoul, boarding a flight from the Dutch capital in Tuesday. After the malfunction was reported, their original flight was forced to turn around. Reports by state the pair of midfielders spent 12 hours in the air before they touched back down in Amsterdam.

The delay has left the CBF scrabbling to make alternative arrangements. Joelinton was expected to take a direct flight from the Netherlands, but will not make Ancelotti's session while Bruno was scheduled to take a connecting flight in order to reach South Korea as quickly as possible.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportForest stars beat Newcastle players to Seoul

The pair of Newcastle midfielders were travelling after their club side's 2-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Two of their opponents in that game, Igor Jesus and John Victor, were luckier in their travel arrangements. Both players took part in a training session in Seoul on Tuesday, which was attended by 21 members of Ancelotti's squad.

Bruno and Joelinton's odyssey fair on overworked players?

Neither Newcastle nor the CBF will be happy with the situation, as the added air miles could increase the chance of injury due. to fatigue and a negative impact on recovery. Factoring in the mooted journey, the pair have clocked up more than 10,000 air miles on the way to the game, and face a similarly lengthy journey to return in time for Newcastle's next Premier League game against Brighton on October 18. 

It brings into question whether players should be required to travel such vast distances to play in international friendlies during the season, especially given the bloated nature of the modern football calendar. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportJoelinton and Bruno pushing for World Cup places

With Ancelotti's side already qualified for next summer's World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, these friendlies do offer an opportunity for fringe players to put their hand up for selection. 

Bruno has been a regular fixture in Brazil's midfield over the past few years. Ancelotti has slotted the 27-year-old into a double pivot with Manchester United's Casemiro in the latter stages of the Selecao's World Cup Qualifying campaign. Barring injury, he will be a part of the five-time winner's World Cup squad.

Joelinton, on the other hand, faces a tougher fight for his spot on the hopefully operational plane to North America. He has yet to appear in either of Ancelotti's previous two squads since the Italian took on the job in May 2025. 

The combative midfielder may have to impress on the pitch rather than the training paddock after his travel woes. Brazil take on South Korea in Seoul on Friday night, before travelling to Tokyo to play Japan on October 14. Both will hope their return to Newcastle will be a lot easier, as they return with that tricky away game against Brighton, before welcoming Benfica to St. James' Park in the Champions League. 

Como Women's star Alisha Lehmann has revealed how beating former club Juventus with her new side earlier this season has given her a big boost. Lehmann moved to Como in the summer transfer window and enjoyed a swift reunion against her former team-mates earlier this month, emerging victorious in a surprise 1-0 Serie A Femminile win at the Stadio Comunale Vittorio Pozzo Lamarmora.

Como pull off shock win over Juventus

Lehmann waved goodbye to Juventus in August after winning the Serie A title and joined Como Women on a three-year contract. The Swiss star said at the time that joining an independent club was an "important factor" in her decision to make the move and that she shared the club's long-term vision. Lehmann then came up against former club Juventus with Como in just their second league match of the season and helped secure a surprise 1-0 win. Lehmann admitted at the time it had been an "emotional" experience playing against her former team and has now revealed how she benefitted from the game.

AdvertisementInstagramLehmann thrilled by victory against former club

Lehmann told 20 minutes: "Como will continue to grow in the coming years. The victory against my former club, Juve, was incredible and did me a lot of good. I will never say anything bad. I had a good year. I am now a regular starter, and playing is the main reason why we play football. Como also has a really interesting project in women's football."

The 26-year-old also feels she is now in the "perfect place" and is looking forward to an exciting future with the club. She added: "I feel good in Como. It’s the perfect place for me and, certainly, the most beautiful place I’ve ever lived. I live right on the lake, and it’s absolutely magnificent. I’ve even run into a few celebrities because we go to the same restaurants. But it’s nice here because everyone respects each other so much."

Getty ImagesWhy Lehmann left Juventus for Como

Lehmann may have tasted success with Juventus last season but she was far from a regular in the XI and her move to Como offers her the chance to establish herself as first choice once again. The Swiss star also told she was keen to stay in Italy as she sees plenty of potential for the women's game to grow. 

“I came here to play football and hope to earn my place by working hard,” she explained. “I came here to compete and to grow as an athlete. The rest will come if I stay true to that. For me, it’s simple: I want to play as much as possible, help the team, and enjoy football. What I love is that they [Como] take the game seriously, but also create space for players to be themselves.

“There’s so much potential here. Italy’s performance showed the quality and spirit in the game here, and now people are paying attention. I think the league is ready to take a big step forward. With more visibility, investment, and commitment to the players, Serie A Women can become a real force in Europe. Being part of that journey is something I’m really excited about.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Lehmann 'not happy' on bench for Switzerland

Lehmann also spoke about her experiences at Euro 2025 as Switzerland hosted the tournament and made it to the quarter-finals before being knocked out against Spain. The Como star says she enjoyed the tournament but is eager for more game time with the national team. She told 20 minutes: “We had a great time during the European Championship. It was a truly incredible experience. When you're a footballer, you always want to play. So I'd be lying if I said I was happy on the bench. Of course, I wasn't. But football is also about supporting your team. And during the tournament, we created a great bond. It was perfect.”

Tottenham Hotspur have a world-class stadium which cost £1bn and they’ve also splashed the cash on several new signings over the years. However, their wait for a first trophy since 2008 goes on.

Spurs have also brought in big transfer fees for a plethora of stars, dealing with some of Europe’s biggest clubs in the process – but who is the club’s record departure?

Here is a look at Tottenham Hotspur’s most expensive sales in their history, with the help of news reports and Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

Rank

Player

Fee

Sold to

Year

Harry Kane

£86.4m

Bayern Munich

2023

Gareth Bale

£85.3m

Real Madrid

2013

Kyle Walker

£50m

Man City

2017

Dimitar Berbatov

£30.75m

Man Utd

2008

Luka Modric

£30m

Real Madrid

2012

Steven Bergwijn

£26m

Ajax

2022

Oliver Skipp

£25m

Leicester

2024

Kieran Trippier

£20m

Atletico Madrid

2019

Heung-min Son

£20m

LAFC

2025

Robbie Keane

£19m

Liverpool

2008

Michael Carrick

£18.6m

Man Utd

2006

Emerson Royal

£18m

AC Milan

2024

Kevin Wimmer

£18m

Stoke City

2017

Christian Eriksen

£16.9m

Inter

2020

Nabil Bentaleb

£16m

Schalke

2017

Toby Alderweireld

£13m

Al-Duhail

2021

Juan Foyth

£13m

Villarreal

2021

Ryan Mason

£13m

Hull City

2016

Nacer Chadli

£13m

West Brom

2016

Kyle Walker-Peters

£12m

Southampton

2020

Andros Townsend

£12m

Newcastle

2016

Peter Crouch

£12m

Stoke

2011

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

£12m

Marseille

2025

Here’s a detailed look at Spurs' top 10 sales… 10 Robbie Keane £19m to Liverpool, 2008

Robbie Keane was Spurs’ star player and captain back in 2008, so it was a real blow when Liverpool took him to Anfield for £19m. The transfer fee could have surpassed £20m, but we doubt the Irishman met the required add-ons.

Daniel Levy publicly spoke of their disappointment that Keane wanted a move away, but six months later, Keane was back at Tottenham on a permanent transfer after struggling to become a regular on Merseyside.

9 Heung-min Son £20m to LAFC, 2025

A Tottenham icon, Heung-min Son lifted Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years following the club’s Europa League triumph in 2025, but months later, the South Korea forward left north London for the MLS.

The attacker departed for LAFC in a deal worth £20m, with Son scoring 173 goals in 454 games for Spurs, proving to be worth every penny of the £22m Tottenham spent in 2015.

8 Kieran Trippier £20m to Atletico Madrid, 2019

Kieran Trippier’s final game for Tottenham came at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium in the 2019 Champions League final. It would end up being his new club home after Spurs sold him to Diego Simeone’s side for £20m that summer.

Trippier has since become a La Liga winner and returned to the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he helped them qualify for the Champions League.

7 Oliver Skipp £25m to Leicester City, 2024

After coming through the academy and making more than 100 first-team appearances, midfielder Oliver Skipp was sold by Spurs for a reported £25m in 2024.

Leicester City were happy to pay big for Skipp after winning promotion, with the player signing a five-year deal. For a player who didn’t quite reach his potential at Tottenham, it wasn’t the worst deal in the world.

6 Steven Bergwijn £26m to Ajax, 2022

Tottenham signed Steven Bergwijn in January 2020 in the hope that he’d further boost a very exciting attacking lineup under Jose Mourinho.

However, the Dutchman rarely started and wasn’t the attacking threat Spurs had invested in. Eight goals in 83 appearances isn’t exactly worth what they paid for him, so they did well to bring in a £26m fee in 2022.

5 Luka Modric £30m to Real Madrid, 2012

Luka Modric’s performances over a four-year period at White Hart Lane caught the eye of Real Madrid in 2012, who took the Croatia international to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2012 for £30m.

The midfielder went on to star in Spain and even won the Ballon d’Or in 2018, so the £30m fee is probably looked back on as a bargain for Madrid.

4 Dimitar Berbatov £30.75m to Man Utd, 2008

Stylish striker Dimitar Berbatov struck up a brilliant relationship with Robbie Keane in north London, with the former scoring 46 goals in 102 games.

Despite having Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United added Berbatov to their ranks in 2008, and he’d go on to win six honours with the Red Devils in four years following his £30.75m transfer from Spurs.

3 Kyle Walker £50m to Man City, 2017

Kyle Walker became the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Manchester City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, with the England international going on to win everything under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

Walker is arguably England’s greatest-ever right-back, but at the time, Tottenham had Kieran Trippier waiting in the wings, so were seemingly happy to cash in on him for such a large sum.

2 Gareth Bale £85.3m to Real Madrid, 2013

Gareth Bale followed Modric to Real Madrid in 2013 after starring in north London. The Wales international cost Real more than they had paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, with the transfer a world-record €100m (£85.3m) at the time.

Bale would go on to win 15 honours at the Bernabeu, including five Champions League titles. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances in a Madrid shirt.

1 Harry Kane £86.4m to Bayern Munich, 2023

Topping the charts as Tottenham’s record departure is record goalscorer Harry Kane, who brought in £86.4m when he joined Bayern Munich in 2023.

The striker was linked with a Spurs exit on numerous occasions during his 13-year spell as a professional in north London, but it was the Bundesliga and Bayern that persuaded him to leave Tottenham. Kane, as expected, has gone on to continue to score for fun in Germany.

“It’s that tiny bit around ‘okay, how do we improve our intent through those middle overs’,” says Katey Martin

ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-20252:04

Rayudu: KKR have to sort out their middle order and bowling changes

The win over the already-eliminated Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday afternoon at Eden Gardens made it the first instance of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) winning two games in a row in IPL 2025. Throw in the no-result against Punjab Kings (PBKS), and they have now got five points in three games, and they are contenders to make the playoffs. But some things are not yet as smooth as they would like them to be and, as Ambati Rayudu says, “they have to really sort that middle order out”. And that’s not all.On Sunday, it came down to Andre Russell making the most of an entry point he has always asked for but rarely been given, and Rinku Singh doing Rinku Singh things, which he hasn’t always been able to do this season. That added up to KKR losing only two wickets after the eighth over, Russell getting to bat from the 13th over, and Rinku getting six don’t-think-just-hit balls at the end. It worked well.But “that middle period, they really need to sharpen up, they need to step up if they have to compete against the big teams that are doing well this season,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo Time Out. “If they have to win the championship again, they have to really sort that middle order out.”Related

No rush, just Russ: measured mayhem is KKR's new mantra

Rinku under injury cloud after saving the day for KKR in the field

KKR survive last-ball thriller to stay alive in top four race

On Sunday, Venkatesh Iyer and Ramandeep Singh, both out of form, were pushed down to allow Russell and Rinku to have a go. Is that a plan KKR will turn to again to make the most of the middle overs while batting?And what about the middle overs with the ball?Russell has eight wickets at an average of 20.12 from 11 matches, but has actually bowled in only seven of them, a total of 13.3 overs. He can be expensive – his economy rate this season is 11.92 – but, as Rayudu pointed out, he can take wickets.”In terms of their bowling changes, they have to be better. I don’t know why Russell hasn’t bowled today [he did, the 19th over of RR’s chase, conceding 11],” Rayudu said. “Russell is a wicket-taker. Even if he goes for runs, when you are 75 for 5 [RR were 71 for 5 in the chase in the eighth over], you want to get somebody in there who can get you those wickets.”He’s always been a wicket-taker. So I think that’s one area where [Ajinkya] Rahane has to seriously look at.”0:55

Martin: Russell was banking on taking on the pace bowlers

Katey Martin, Rayudu’s co-panelist on the programme, agreed. “When you’re 75 for 5, you go ‘how do we get one more wicket here’ and the impact player is probably going to come in and then it’s Jofra Archer,” she said. “So it’s just that tipping point of getting your team ahead in terms of defending a total.”The fact of the matter is they found a way to win and obviously it’s must-win to the end, but the teams that can find a way to win from any situation and scrap and fight give themselves the best chance. And ideally, they would have liked to have been further points ahead. But they found a way to win, and I think that can give confidence.”And if it’s that tiny bit around ‘okay, how do we improve our intent through those middle overs’, they can get there clicking knowing they’ve got match-winners throughout – that we talked about at the start – then they might sneak through.”KKR next play bottom-placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home on Wednesday, followed by games against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), another poorly performing team, and high-flying Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to round things off. The last two games are away fixtures.

Frank Lampard’s plans for allowing Patrick Bamford to train at high-flying Coventry City have now been explained. The England international was spotted at the club's training ground after being released by Premier League side Leeds United in the summer, fuelling speculation that the striker could earn a contract with the Championship leaders.

Bamford departed Leeds after being deemed surplus to requirements

Bamford ended his seven-year association with Leeds in August after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Daniel Farke. After joining the Whites in 2018 from Middlesbrough, the 32-year-old scored 60 goals in 205 appearances for the club, helping them earn two promotions to the Premier League. After emerging as a key figure for Leeds under former boss Marcelo Bielsa, Bamford was called up to the England senior squad in 2021, earning his first and only cap in the 4-0 victory over Andorra in September of that year.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhites boss Farke held 'open and honest' conversation with Bamford

Confirming Bamford was not part of his plans for the 2025-26 season, Farke said in July: "I had a really open and honest conversation with Patrick, which was important. He knows how much I rate him as a player and I would have preferred a fit Patrick Bamford for the last two seasons.

"But he is a player who needs to be the main man. He needs an arm round the shoulder after some difficult seasons. I was not willing to tell him he was the main man at Premier League level.

"In the second day of pre-season, I got him into my office and told him he is not in my plans for the upcoming season.

"It would have been easy for me to hide behind the sporting director or wait until we got someone else in, but he has done so much for this club, he deserves respect and transparency.”

Report claims Bamford was spotted training at Coventry on Friday

After initially being linked with a move to La Liga side Getafe which failed to materialise, Bamford’s hopes of finding a new club looked to have received a boost on Friday. According to the former Chelsea forward was spotted training with Coventry ahead of their clash with Watford on Saturday.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportCoventry boss Lampard not looking to strengthen attacking options

However, a new report in has since clarified that manager Lampard is simply allowing his former Chelsea team-mate to train at the club, and is not looking to bolster his attacking options. After joining Chelsea in 2012, Bamford only briefly rubbed shoulders with Lampard, embarking on a series of loan spells with the likes of Milton Keynes Dons, Derby County and Middlesbrough. During the same period, Lampard – Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer with 211 goals in all competitions – spent two more years at Stamford Bridge before ending his legendary spell at the club by joining Manchester City in 2014. After joining from West Ham in 2001, Lampard spent 13 years in total at Chelsea, lifting 11 major honours.

Under Roman Abramovich and now Todd Boehly, Chelsea have spent big over the last 20 years on a number of new signings, but how have the Blues fared when it comes to departures?

Those at Stamford Bridge have cashed in on a number of stars, with a plethora of players moving to the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Here’s a look at Chelsea’s most expensive sales in their history, as per news reports and Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

1

Eden Hazard

£89m

Real Madrid

2019

2

Kai Havertz

£65m

Arsenal

2023

3

Oscar

£60m

Shanghai SIPG

2017

4

Alvaro Morata

£58.3m

Atletico Madrid

2020

5

Diego Costa

£57m

Atletico Madrid

2017

6

Mason Mount

£55m

Man Utd

2023

7

David Luiz

£50m

PSG

2014

8

Noni Madueke

£48.5m

Arsenal

2025

9

Nemanja Matic

£40m

Man Utd

2017

10

Juan Mata

£37.1m

Man Utd

2014

=11

Ian Maatsen

£35m

Aston Villa

2024

=11

Thibaut Courtois

£35m

Real Madrid

2018

13

Tammy Abraham

£34m

Roma

2021

14

Conor Gallagher

£33m

Atletico Madrid

2024

15

Romelu Lukaku

£30m

Napoli

2024

16

Kurt Zouma

£29.8m

West Ham

2021

=17

Lewis Hall

£28m

Newcastle

2024

=17

Romelu Lukaku

£28m

Napoli

2024

19

Joao Felix

£26.2m

Al Nassr

2025

20

Timo Werner

£25.3m

RB Leipzig

2022

Here’s a detailed look at Chelsea’s 10 most expensive sales… 10 Juan Mata £37.1m to Man Utd, 2014

Like Nemanja Matic, attacking midfielder Juan Mata also swapped Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford, but did so three years prior in 2014.

The Spaniard joined Chelsea from Valencia in 2011 and starred in the Premier League, but Jose Mourinho who had recently returned for a second stint at the club, was happy to cash in midway through the 2013/14 campaign, bringing in just over £37m.

9 Nemanja Matic £40m to Man Utd, 2017

Matic had two spells at Chelsea, returning to Stamford Bridge in 2014 from Benfica in a deal worth £21m.

The Serbian was a regular over the next three years and the Blues went on to make a tidy profit when selling him to Manchester United and Jose Mourinho in 2017, with their former boss shelling out £40m to prise him from the champions.

8 Noni Madueke £48.5m to Arsenal, 2025

Noni Madueke spent two-and-a-half years at Stamford Bridge after arriving from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, with the Blues making a profit when selling him to rivals Arsenal in 2025.

It looked to be a reasonable decision from Chelsea chiefs, however, Madueke’s start to life at the Emirates shows it could actually prove to be a call the club live to regret.

7 David Luiz £50m to PSG, 2014

Brazilian centre-back David Luiz made an immediate impact after joining Chelsea from Benfica for £21.3m in 2011 and was a regular for the next two and a half years.

Luiz was then sold to Paris Saint-Germain for big money in 2014 as the French giants swooped for a mind-boggling £50m, but two years on, Chelsea would buy the defender back, with Luiz picking up Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League titles during his second stint.

6 Mason Mount £55m to Man Utd, 2023

Chelsea chiefs did brilliantly to bring in an initial £55m for Mason Mount back in 2023, as the midfielder was heading into the final 12 months of his Stamford Bridge contract.

Manchester United were happy to splash the cash on the Englishman, but his first year at Old Trafford was hampered by injury, making the cash brought in for his services a shrewd decision by the Blues.

5 Diego Costa £57m to Atletico Madrid, 2017

Arguably Chelsea’s best striker since Didier Drogba, Diego Costa was signed from and sold to Atletico Madrid in 2014 and 2017 respectively.

During his time in west London, Costa shone with his power and finishing ability, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances and winning two Premier League titles.

Upon his departure following a reported falling-out with manager Antonio Conte, Chelsea managed to recoup some £57m as Atleti came calling for their former forward.

4 Alvaro Morata £58.3m to Atletico Madrid, 2020

Chelsea received the extremely handsome sum of £58.3m when selling Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid back in 2020. The Blues sold him on loan at the start of the 2019/20 season, with the La Liga giants obligated to buy the Spaniard in the following summer.

It meant that Chelsea almost broke even having bought the striker in the summer of 2017 for around £60m from Atleti’s city rivals, Real Madrid.

Considering things didn’t quite work out for Morata at Stamford Bridge, it was a pretty impressive deal from a financial point of view.

Todd Boehly's worst transfers at Chelsea… so far

There are plenty to choose from, but who has been Boehly’s biggest mistake at Stamford Bridge?

2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 3 Oscar £60m to Shanghai SIPG

Oscar was one of several Brazilians sold for big money by Chelsea, with the midfielder spending five years at Stamford Bridge from 2012 before a £60m switch at the height of the Chinese Super League boom.

He won four major honours with the Blues and made more than 200 appearances before moving to China with Shanghai SIPG. Oscar recently sealed a move back to his native Brazil with a January switch to former club Sao Paulo.

2 Kai Havertz £65m to Arsenal, 2023

Scorer of the winner in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City, Kai Havertz was sold to London rivals Arsenal in 2023.

Three years prior, the German forward was signed from Bayer Leverkusen, but struggled to find a starring role at Chelsea, resulting in him joining Mikel Arteta’s side, where he has impressed since his £65m move.

1 Eden Hazard £89m to Real Madrid, 2019

Top of the charts is winger Eden Hazard, who starred for Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, resulting in Real Madrid swooping in a record deal.

The Belgian made more than 350 appearances for the Blues, scoring 110 times, providing 85 assists and winning six major honours. Those at the Bernabeu made Hazard a Galactico, but things didn’t go to plan for him in Madrid, with injuries limiting him to just seven goals in 76 appearances.

Reports stated that his transfer fee could have topped £150m, but Chelsea had to settle for a €100m (£89m) windfall following his departure.

Ranking Eden Hazard's 10 best career performances & moments

The former Chelsea and Belgium star enjoyed a fabulous career before retiring at the age of 32.

ByFreddie Taylor Oct 13, 2023

Steven Smith and Beau Webster make half-centuries as bowlers dominate at Lord’s

Andrew McGlashan11-Jun-20252:55

Hayden: Australia won day one because of SA batters’ lack of intent

Stumps Australia’s quicks followed what Kagiso Rabada started as the defending champions hit back strongly on the opening day of the World Test Championship final. The contest had been billed as a battle between two attacks and 14 wickets fell on the first day at Lord’s to suggest the destination of the mace could be decided sooner rather than later.Rabada’s 5 for 51, the second time he has got his name on the Lord’s honours board, kept Australia to 212, before Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood struck back in the final session to leave South Africa tottering on 43 for 4 and looking towards their captain, Temba Bavuma, for inspiration.Related

The best of Rabada wasn't in the balls that got the wickets

Alex Carey has another eventful outing at Lord's

South Africa's trial by paralysis epitomises the Bazball fallacy

Chappell: Smith's new approach is a lesson in how to live life

Australia’s reshaped top three had fallen before lunch after Bavuma was pleased to bowl first under overcast skies. But at 146 for 4, with Steven Smith set despite the flu, and 192 for 5 with Beau Webster having cashed in on a reprieve on 4 when South Africa didn’t review an lbw, they had an opportunity to recalibrate, only to lose their last five wickets for 20. Aiden Markram removing Smith was up there with one of the more unexpected wicket-taking combinations on offer in this match. “I’m still trying to fathom how I’ve done that,” he later said.Australia needed a response and Starc provided it in the first over (again) when Markram dragged on an inswinger. Starc should quickly have had a second, but Alex Carey dropped a regulation outside edge off Wiaan Mulder, although he didn’t have to wait too long when Ryan Rickelton nicked a drive to first slip.Mulder, batting at No. 3 for just the third time in Tests, laboured to 6 off 44 balls before being beaten on the drive by Cummins. South Africa could barely score: between them, Mulder and Bavuma made 8 off 81 deliveries. In the closing moments of a day that was never short on action, Hazlewood, back in the side after an injury, produced a gem of a delivery that nipped back through Tristan Stubbs. Concerns about South Africa’s batting order were ringing true, not that Australia’s had looked convincing.The day ended in bright sunshine but had started under a heavy cloud cover with the floodlights on. After three consecutive maidens to start the Test – the first time by Australia since 2020 – the opening runs off the bat came from the 21st delivery.1:11

Steyn: When Rabada smells a bit of blood, he goes for it

Marnus Labuschagne, starting his life as a Test opener, produced what early scoring there was, but Khawaja couldn’t open his account before edging the 20th ball he faced. Rabada came around the wicket, forced Khawaja to play, and David Bedingham did well to hold on at first slip with Markram nearly distracting him from second. It continued a familiar mode of dismissal for Khawaja, who, since the start of 2024, has averaged 18.63 against quicks from around the wicket compared to 43.80 from over.Cameron Green’s first delivery as a Test No. 3 was a gift on the pads, but his third took the edge and was brilliantly held by Markram who, this time, had to contend with Mulder diving across in front of him at third. It meant that Smith walked out, on what he termed his second-favourite ground in the world, with Australia 16 for 2.Labuschagne nearly fell in the next over, flicking Marco Jansen just short of leg gully, a mode of dismissal he has been vulnerable to before, but he and Smith started to rebuild the innings before Labuschagne edged Jansen from around the wicket the ball after being struck by a short delivery.2:13

Smith: We’re in a pretty good position

Two years ago, against India at The Oval, Smith and Travis Head came together at 76 for 3; this time it was 47 for 3. And there was no match-changing partnership. Instead, Head fell to what became the final ball before lunch when he glanced Jansen down the leg side.On resumption, there was a change in tempo, and a feeling Australia were taking the initiative. Smith took 11 off Rabada’s first over of the afternoon and, shortly after reaching fifty, became the leading overseas batter at Lord’s, surpassing Warren Bardsley. He is also the first visiting batter to face three different Test opposition at the ground: Pakistan (on debut), England ,and now South Africa.It looked like Smith was writing another significant Lord’s story, batting with more ease than anyone else had managed, while Lungi Ngidi was struggling to support the good work of Rabada and Jansen. But out of nowhere Smith drove at Markram’s offspin – only introduced to allow a change of ends – and edged to slip where Jansen made good use of his long reach to hold the catch after two juggles.2:41

Day 1 review – what did Rabada do right?

Webster, meanwhile, had been anything but secure on his first appearance at the ground. He narrowly survived an early lbw appeal against Jansen when he was fractionally outside the line, and then had a huge dose of fortune when, on 8, Bavuma opted not to review an lbw shout off Rabada; Bavuma indicated he thought there was an edge, but it was two pads and hitting halfway up middle.Webster continued to live a charmed life with his inside edge getting a regular working over but he kept his composure and was quick to latch on to any poor deliveries. As if trying to make up for the earlier mistake, South Africa reviewed for another lbw against him only for it to have come off the middle of the bat.Webster brought up the second fifty of his brief career from 69 balls as, either side of tea, he and Carey started to forge what felt like a threatening stand. But South Africa were gift-wrapped another wicket for spin when Carey attempted a reverse-sweep and played over the top of Keshav Maharaj’s delivery.From there, the tail folded and the last five fell in 35 balls. Cummins was cleaned up by a beauty which straightened down the line from Rabada while Webster’s innings ended when he pushed off the back foot and edged to slip. Sadly for South Africa, the wickets didn’t stop coming.

Enzo Maresca has expressed his frustration at Chelsea striker Liam Delap after the Blues frontman was dismissed for two yellow cards within seven minutes as Chelsea hung on to win 4-3 in a tense Carabao Cup encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Delap had been out injured since August but had an unsavoury return to action as he pushed Yerson Mosquera then barged into Emmanuel Agbadou to earn his marching orders in the 86th minute.

Another red card for ill-disciplined Blues

Red cards have been one of the stories of Chelsea’s season so far, with the Blues having seen an astonishing six dismissals in their last nine matches. On this occasion, Maresca had little sympathy for Delap, who came on in the 61st minute for his first appearance since victory over Fulham on August 30 and let frustration get the better of him in a brief cameo.

The Italian head-coach accused the 22-year-old striker of “playing for himself” as calls for calm fell on deaf ears when Delap earnt himself a second yellow card in the space of just seven minutes to earn "thug" accusations from fans.

Chelsea had been 3-0 up at half-time against the Premier League’s bottom side but Wolves rallied in the second period to set up a nervy finish. The Blues’ young stars had been at it again as Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Estevao and Jamie Gittens all found the net, all 21 years of age or younger. Delap, just a year older than Santos and Gittens, had less of a positive evening as he earnt the first red card of his professional career.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Embarrassing' – Maresca's fury at Delap

Asked post-match by The Athletic about Chelsea’s red card tally and if it is becoming an embarrassment, Maresca replied: “Yes, it’s embarrassing when it’s a red card like today. Because it’s two yellow cards in five minutes, 10 minutes, I don’t know, seven minutes. Both, I think we can avoid that. So it’s not good.

“After the yellow card I told him four or five times to keep calm. But Liam is a player that when he’s inside the pitch probably he’ll be playing the game for himself, and he struggles to realise and to listen around him.

"Very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary. Absolutely deserved. It was a stupid foul. We can avoid that. I completely support the red card,” Maresca added.

"I completely understand when there are red cards like Brighton or Manchester United as that is difficult, but the red card against Nottingham Forest and this red card we can avoid. We have to avoid that.”

Chelsea through to next round of Carabao Cup despite scare

"Very happy first half, very upset second half," Maresca expressed at full-time. "It's always complicated to go away and score three goals. We were playing nice [going] forward, great chances.

"Second half, we were not doing the right things. The first goal we conceded opened a little bit the game – gave them the boost and the energy to come back into the game. And then I think all of [the three goals conceded] we can avoid."

Maresca’s words sum up a game of two halves for Chelsea, who will feel fortunate to have gone through to the next round unscathed despite Delap’s dismissal.

A quarter-final tie away at League One side Cardiff City awaits, the Bluebirds having beaten Welsh neighbours Wrexham 2-1 on Tuesday to secure a place in the last eight at the expense of their big-spending Championship rivals.

Chelsea have not won the League Cup since back in 2015, with no London side winning the competition in the decade since. Maresca’s side will hope that they can put that right this time around, with a relatively kind draw which will allow their young stars the opportunity to shine once again.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportDelap absent for crunch Tottenham clash

Delap will miss Chelsea’s London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, in what will be a blow for Maresca amidst the continued fitness concerns of Joao Pedro. The Brazilian has played through pain for much of the season and will hope to have some of the burden taken off him in the coming weeks by fellow new signing Delap, as Chelsea look to return to winning ways in the league.

Over the last couple of years, Manchester United have been a side who have splashed the cash in the transfer market to try and take them back to their former glory days.

In the last three years alone, the Red Devils have spent upwards of £800m on new additions, but the vast majority of which have failed to deliver and catapult them up the league table.

The club finished 15th in the Premier League last time around, with pressure piling on manager Ruben Amorim as a result of his lack of impact at Old Trafford.

Despite financial difficulties voiced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, he handed the 40-year-old funds in the region of £200m to help improve his first-team squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

However, one player already at the Theatre of Dreams has struggled as of late, with a potential exit on the cards from the club in the months ahead, given his lack of impact.

The latest on Zirkzee’s future at Man Utd

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been hugely linked with an exit just over a year after his arrival.

Last summer, the Red Devils paid a fee in the region of £36m for the signature of the Dutchman, joining the club from Serie A side Bologna with real expectations to improve the frontline.

However, the 24-year-old only netted three league goals last season and was unable to get himself off the mark in the opening weeks of the new season after staying put.

The big-money spent by the board over the summer has seen the player fall further down Amorim’s pecking order, subsequently failing to make a single start to date.

He’s only registered 74 minutes of league action in 2025/26, undoubtedly leading to his desire to leave the club and pursue a new challenge in the near future.

Current CEO Omar Berrada has previously stated that players who failed to make any impact in two years must be sold to avoid losing huge money – with Zirkzee certainly in that category.

However, he’s not alone in that department, with another current first-team member also on borrowed time given his lack of impact at Old Trafford in recent times.

The United star who’s on borrowed time alongside Zirkzee

United’s lack of success in the transfer market has undoubtedly contributed to their demise in the Premier League, which has increased pressure onto the shoulders of Amorim.

Some of the players already on the books before his arrival struggled to make an impact after his arrival, with Brazilian winger Antony just one player who ultimately failed to hit the ground running during his tenure.

He joined the club in a £86m deal from Ajax back in the summer of 2022, subsequently following Erik ten Hag to the club after his appointment during the same period.

However, the club decided to sell the 25-year-old this summer, with the forward moving to Real Betis for just £21m, seeing the hierarchy take a £65m loss on their investment.

Another example of their failure in the transfer market is highlighted in their move to sign Manuel Ugarte last summer, with the Uruguayan costing a fee in the region of £42m from PSG.

His arrival was seen as the perfect opportunity to improve the options in the middle of the park, but a little over 12 months after his transfer, he’s failed to nail down a place in the starting eleven.

Ugarte, who’s been dubbed a “wet blanket” by former Chelsea star Craig Burley, has only started two games this campaign, along with 22 in the previous season.

Games played

6

Matches started

2

Minutes played

242

Passes completed

40

Chances created

0.3

Fouls committed

3.4

Dribbled past

0.9

Interceptions

0.6

The Uruguayan’s underlying stats from the recent campaign highlight his inability to impress, which could ultimately spell the end of his time at Old Trafford in the near future.

He’s only completed an average of 40 passes per 90 this season, whilst only creating 0.3 chances per 90, subsequently showcasing his

inability to progress the play into attacking areas.

The 24-year-old has also committed 3.4 fouls per 90 to date, whilst also ranking in the 73rd percentile for being dribbled past – highlighting he often resorts to taking out an opponent if he’s struggling to dispossess them.

As a result, he’s often been selected behind the likes of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in such a role, with his move to England undoubtedly failing to reach the heights many anticipated.

After such a disappointing first year in the Premier League, it wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone to see him depart in the near future, subsequently raising funds for another talent to arrive in the process.

The new Yorke & Cole: Man Utd's "superb double-act" could save Amorim's job

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke famously scored 53 goals as Manchester United won the treble in 1998/99, but has Rúben Amorim found a new “electric” duo?

ByBen Gray Oct 7, 2025