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Nottingham Forest are set to hold talks with the agents of an “amazing” player this week, in order to try and hash out a deal, according to a report.

Forest looking to achieve "big things" next season

Forest continued their preparations for the new Premier League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Fiorentina on Tuesday evening, and Nikola Milenkovic was happy with the team’s performance.

Milenkovic said: “We played against a very good team, from Serie A, and drew so we can continue to bring our condition and be ready for the first game.”

The defender also added that new signings Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus have the ability to help the Tricky Trees have a successful 2025-26 campaign, saying: “They need also to adapt, it’s a change in the type of game from where they came,”

“I think they’re two very big players who can give us a big hand this season and help us to achieve big things.”

Nuno has strengthened his attack, following the departure of Anthony Elanga, while Jair Cunha has been brought in to bolster the backline, but the manager is yet to make any new additions to his midfield.

However, earlier this week, it was revealed that Nottingham Forest are leading the race for Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, with Edu driving the deal, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the midfielder.

According to a report from Italy (via The Daily Mail), Forest are set to hold talks with Luiz’s agents this week, in order to try and hash out a deal.

Nottingham Forest now on verge of signing £10m defender after making offer

The Tricky Trees are close to sealing an agreement for a full-back, a report has revealed.

ByDominic Lund Aug 5, 2025

Nuno’s side have the ‘priority’ in the race for the central midfielder’s signature, despite interest from rival Premier League clubs and a Saudi Pro League side.

The plan is to sign the Juventus maestro on an initial loan deal, which would include an obligation to buy for a fee of around £26m, although previous reports suggest the Italian club are keen to hold out for £35m.

Luiz could be "amazing" signing for Forest

Forest will once again be looking to challenge for a European spot next season, meaning it will be important for Nuno to bring in players with experience of doing exactly that, and the Brazilian was a real difference-maker for Aston Villa in the 2023-24 season.

Roy Keane lauded the former Aston Villa man as “amazing” during that campaign, with the Rio de Janeiro-born maestro collecting 14 goal contributions in the Premier League, while he is also a very impressive dribbler of the ball.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Successful take-ons

1.40 (95th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.15 (86th percentile)

Passes attempted

71.27 (91st percentile)

Shot-creating actions

3.98 (93rd percentile)

Luiz has failed to establish himself as a regular starter for Juventus since moving to Italy, making just 19 Serie A appearances last season, but his previous exploits in England suggest he could be a fantastic signing for Forest.

The new Premier League season inches ever closer, although Manchester United’s search for a new striker is still dragging on.

Speaking in Friday’s press conference, manager Ruben Amorim hinted that he could even trial Matheus Cunha or Bryan Mbeumo in a number nine role, having suggested that the two new arrivals “can play as a striker”.

Of course, the pair – who scored 35 league goals between them in 2024 – can lead the line if needed, but it would not be the ideal solution. United can no longer tolerate a ‘square pegs in round holes’ policy.

Yes, a dearth of funds – and an inability to move on the likes of Rasmus Hojlund – could well force Amorim’s hand, although the Portuguese coach should not have to resort to plugging the gap with an unorthodox option. A proper striker is in order.

So far this summer, United’s top-flight rivals have already strengthened their own ranks in that department. Indeed, Chelsea have acquired Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. Arsenal have snapped up Viktor Gyokeres. Liverpool – fresh from signing Hugo Ekitike – could even land the cream of the crop, Alexander Isak.

The Old Trafford side now need to join the party…

Leading targets emerge in Man United striker search

As already stated, the Red Devils aren’t exactly armed with a transfer war chest, with recent reports outlining that deals for the likes of Isak – and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – are likely to prove too expensive at present.

In the case of Sesko, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell outlined that United have been interested in the Slovenian “for years”, and have stayed in regular contact, albeit with the 22-year-old seemingly being lined up to replace Isak at Newcastle United.

According to reports in Spain, the £70m-rated marksman remains on INEOS’ five-man striker shortlist, with Crystal Palace talisman Jean-Philippe Mateta also noted as one of those ‘leading targets’.

Transfer Focus

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

The 28-year-old – who has reportedly been valued at around £40m-£50m – is deemed to be among the more ‘accessible’ of the club’s targets, having previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier this summer.

While Mateta might not be a glamour acquisition amid a summer of high-profile centre-forward signings, he could represent the perfect alternative to a player like Sesko.

How Mateta compares to Benjamin Sesko

It does appear the case that United have repeatedly missed the boat with regard to Sesko, having reportedly turned down the chance to sign him for just £2.5m back in 2019, while also losing out as the 6 foot 4 sensation joined Leipzig in 2022.

An exciting, high-potential striker who has scored 27 Bundesliga goals across the last two seasons, it is easy to see why the former Red Bull Salzburg man is generating such interest, with any side likely to reap the rewards of bringing him into the fold.

Mateta, at six years his senior, might be more of a short-term fix than a marquee, long-term solution, although on the evidence of his recent Palace heroics, he would be worth the investment.

Also a towering, physical focal point of a striker, like Sesko, at 6 foot 4, the Frenchman is actually deemed to be a statistically and stylistically similar striker to the Leipzig starlet, among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref.

Like Sesko, Mateta has been a solidly consistent performer over the last two campaigns, in particular, having scored 30 league goals combined at Selhurst Park in that time.

Like the Slovenian international too, Oliver Glasner’s main man previously made his mark in German football, prior to moving to south London, having scored 27 times in 71 games for Mainz.

On the statistical front, as evidenced below, the pair do share a real likeness, having boasted a similar scoring rate, while also enjoying a similar record with regard to progressive carries and progressive passes, alongside touches in the attacking penalty area.

Goals

0.48

0.49

Goals + Assists

0.54

0.68

Progressive passes

1.53

1.78

Progressive carries

1.77

1.74

Shot-creating actions

2.21

1.93

Shots on target

0.99

1.10

Pass accuracy

65.1%

67.6%

Touches in opposition box

3.20

3.45

Aerial duels won

2.14

2.65

The beauty of both men is that they are true strikers through and through, operating as an orthodox, almost old-fashioned attacking figurehead.

Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, Mateta has only once played as a winger, with the rest of his career outings coming through the middle. Sesko, meanwhile, has only made five recorded appearances outside of operating as the main man in attack.

While there may be intrigue over deploying a more fluid attack, involving a figure like Cunha or Mbeumo as the spearhead, recent years have outlined the need for United to go back to basics with the addition of a proper poacher.

Sesko would, undoubtedly, be an exciting addition, although – as hailed by journalist Rory Smith – Mateta is an “extraordinary” talent in his own right, having been playing “like original Ronaldo” for the Eagles.

He could be just what Amorim is in need of.

Better than Sesko: Man Utd in talks to sign "one of the best STs in Europe"

Manchester United could be about to forget about Benjamin Sesko with another move elsewhere.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 25, 2025

Everton have made contact with another Premier League club over the signing of a £25m-rated youngster, according to a new transfer update.

Everton targeting attacking reinforcements

A new era is on the horizon for the Blues, with life at their new Bramley Moore Dock stadium beginning next month, hopefully heralding the beginning of a more positive period in the club’s great history.

New signings are vital if David Moyes’ Everton side are to kick on in 2025/26, however, and plenty of players are being linked with moves, including Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson. It is claimed that he would love the chance to remain in the Premier League, following his relegation to the Championship back in May.

The Blues are also believed to have held talks with Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz over a summer switch to Merseyside, which could be a fantastic piece of business. The Brazilian was a huge hit at Aston Villa, so Moyes doesn’t have to worry about him adjusting to the pace and power of the Premier League.

It is clear that extra attacking quality is needed at Everton, especially following the departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and now a hugely talented young player has been revealed as a target.

Everton make contact for McAtee signing

According to a new report from The i Paper, there “has been dialogue” between Everton and Manchester City over a summer move for James McAtee.

The Englishman is valued at £25m and Moyes is said to be a “big admirer”, with the attacking midfielder fresh off the back of European Championship glory with England’s Under-21s.

This feels like it could be a perfect move for everyone concerned, allowing McAtee to be a regular starter away from City, and getting him off their wage bill in the process.

The 22-year-old is too talented to be warming the substitutes’ bench most weeks, and he showed his quality at the aforementioned recent Euros, scoring once and helping Lee Carsley’s side go all the way in the tournament.

Meanwhile, former Sheffeld United striker Carl Asaba has even compared him to Arsenal star Martin Odegaard, saying: “He’s a bonus player in that he plays midfield and you have an extra number in there but then he can just attack. He’s like Odegaard. You play him in midfield so he’s defending for you, he’s another body for them to try and navigate away from but he likes the ball 30 yards out because he can go past you like you’re not there.”

There are few negatives to Everton signing McAtee, with his price tag far from extortionate, and the fact that Moyes rates him highly can also only be a good thing.

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The City youngster would add much-needed guile in the No.10 role, scoring and creating at will, and he could grow into an elite footballer as the years pass.

Manchester United’s season ended in disappointing fashion when they were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League in Bilbao last month.

That result means that the Red Devils will not be playing European football in the 2025/26 campaign, as they missed out on the chance to qualify for the Champions League.

This has already had an impact on their summer transfer business, as Chelsea agreed a deal to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town ahead of them. Fabrizio Romano claimed that Champions League football was key to the Blues winning the race for the England U21 international.

The 22-year-old marksman plundered 12 goals in 37 appearances in the Premier League for the Tractor Boys in the 2024/25 campaign, and will now link up with Enzo Maresca and his squad.

However, despite failing to qualify for any European competition and missing out on the signing of Delap, Manchester United have already confirmed that Matheus Cunha has joined the club from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a permanent deal.

What Matheus Cunha could bring to Manchester United

The Brazil international appears to be an ideal fit for Ruben Amorim’s system on paper, because he played as one of two attacking midfielders behind a striker in a similar formation at Wolves.

This means that he could slot straight in as one of the number tens in the Portuguese head coach’s 3-4-2-1 system, with the hope that he can deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

The 26-year-old’s form for Wolves in the last two Premier League seasons suggests that the potential is there for him to make an instant impact at Old Trafford with his ability to score and create goals.

As you can see in the table above, Cunha delivered 27 goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances across those two campaigns, whilst no Manchester United player scored more than eight goals in the Premier League this term.

This suggests that he could immediately be Amorim’s biggest goal threat at the top end of the pitch, due to the current lack of quality in the final third for United.

Cunha, however, only scored six goals and provided six assists in 40 LaLiga outings for Atletico Madrid earlier in his career, so there may still be a question mark over his suitability for a side that is looking to challenge at the top end of the table.

Whilst there is still some doubt over whether or not he can become a star for United in the same way he was for Wolves, the Red Devils could land an even bigger signing than Cunha amid interest in a Champions League winner.

Man Utd eyeing deal for PSG star

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The report claims that Inter, Juventus, Manchester United, and Manchester City are all eyeing up a move for the shot-stopper, who kept a clean sheet in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the Italy international’s current contract in Paris is due to expire in the summer of 2026, with contract talks at a standstill, and this has left the door open to a potential move away from the club ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

CaughtOffside adds that Juventus and Inter are the two most serious contenders to land the 26-year-old goalkeeper this summer, as they hope that a move back to Italy would be tempting for him.

The report claims, however, that Manchester United are also monitoring his situation with PSG because Amorim is unconvinced by Andre Onana could swoop for the PSG star as a replacement for the Cameroon international.

If the Red Devils can get a deal over the line for Donnarumma ahead of the likes of Inter and Juventus, the Italian colossus could be an even bigger signing than Cunha.

Why Donnarumma would be a bigger signing than Cunha for Man Utd

Unlike Cunha, the PSG superstar has proven himself at the very top level as a regular for both PSG and Italy, winning four Ligue 1 titles, one Champions League, and the European Championship with his country.

The former Milan star has been there and done it in the biggest competitions and leagues, whereas Cunha – as aforementioned – is yet to prove himself at that level.

GOAL recently posted an updated power ranking for the 2025 Ballon d’Or and placed Donnarumma in 12th place, as one of the contenders for the prestigious award, thanks to his impressive performances for PSG.

Cunha, as he has not showcased his quality on the same stages, did not rank in their top 20, which speaks to the gulf in quality between the two players.

Donnarumma would also come in as a significant upgrade on Onana between the sticks and provide United with a solid goalkeeper who could be relied upon week-in-week-out.

As you can see in the table above, the Italian international was significantly better as a shot-stopper in Europe this season, whilst also making fewer errors that led to goals.

The PSG star also went through the Ligue 1 campaign, playing 24 matches, without making a single error that led to a shot or a goal, whilst Onana made four errors leading to shots or goals in 34 Premier League games.

These statistics suggest that Donnarumma would be a huge upgrade on the current United number one, both as a shot-stopper and as a reliable presence in goal, which is another reason why he would be an even more important signing than Cunha.

Instead of worrying about whether or not their goalkeeper is going to make a mistake, the Red Devils defenders could be assured by the Italy international behind them, leading to greater defensive displays and fewer errors at the back.

Osimhen upgrade: Best "finisher in the world" is now Man Utd's no.1 target

All of Manchester United’s attacking dreams would come true if they landed this Victor Osimhen upgrade.

5

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 1, 2025

It is now down to the club to win the race to sign the Champions League winner and Ballon d’Or contender this summer, as he could be a transformational signing due to the quality and pedigree that the goalkeeper would bring to the team.

The perfect night for Manchester City.

On Tuesday, the Citizens swatted aside Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad, meaning they require just a point at Craven Cottage on the final day to secure a 15th successive season of Champions League football.

Well, given that the Sky Blues have won each of their last 17 meetings with Fulham, a sequence that dates back to 2011, one would imagine that they’ll get the job done on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday.

Not only that, Rodri made his long-awaited return, introduced as a late substitute 240 days after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture against Arsenal in September.

Meantime, after the match, the Man City faithful paid tribute to Kevin De Bruyne, given that this was his last-ever appearance at the Etihad, widely considered to be the club’s greatest-ever player.

Looking ahead to the future, one player in particular impressed on the evening, giving Pep Guardiola food for thought going forward into the Club World Cup and next season.

How Manchester City swatted Bournemouth aside

Man City’s victory over Bournemouth was never really in doubt from the 14th minute onwards when Omar Marmoush’s absolute thunderbolt broke the deadlock, thwacking the post on its way in, giving Kepa Arrizabalaga no chance whatsoever.

This was the best genre of goal; one where those in attendance are gasping with disbelief at what they’ve just witnessed each time the strike is replayed to them on the jumbotron.

Bernardo Silva lashed home a second on the cusp of half time, before the Cherries were presented with a glimmer of hope, with Mateo Kovačić sent off for a last-man foul on Evanilson.

Nevertheless, just six minutes later, Lewis Cook was also dismissed by referee Thomas Bramall for a knee-high tackle, extinguishing any hope of a comeback, before Nico González rubber-stamped the victory, scoring his first goal in the Premier League.

Daniel Jebbison did get Bournemouth on the board right at the death, very much of the consolation variety, and this did nothing to dampen the mood, with the Man City support in good voice and good spirits, and full credit to them, just three days after defeat in the FA Cup Final.

With a Champions League spot now all but secured, planning can well and truly start for next season, so has one player in particular staked a claim to be a central pillar in Guardiola’s future plans?

Man City star showed they can forget Wirtz

As was widely reported on Monday, including by Rob Dawson of ESPN, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to the amount of money the deal would cost in terms of both transfer fee and wages.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Werkself valued the 22-year-old at £126m, with Bayern Munich currently his most-likely destination, although Liverpool and Real Madrid remain interested.

For Man City, they won’t be getting their hands on Wirtz, but they did sign another Bundesliga superstar back in January that may help mitigate this blow.

Marmoush’s strike against Bournemouth, which we’ve already mentioned, was breathtaking, continuing his rich goal-scoring form since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £63m earlier this year.

His sublime performance on Tuesday evening showed the Egyptian at his best.

Marmoush is both a creator and a goal-scorer, taking his tally to eight in Manchester City colours, these coming in just 21 appearances to date, with all seven of his Premier League strikes coming at the Etihad, most notably bagging a hat-trick against Newcastle in February.

Omar Marmoush statistics vs Bournemouth

Statistics

Marmoush

Match rank

Goals

1

=1st

Shots on target

1

=1st

Shots of target

1

=3rd

Shots blocked

1

=1st

Passing accuracy

93%

6th

Key passes

1

=4th

Sofascore rating

7.3

=3rd

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore

This is on top of the 20 goals he managed for Frankfurt before making the move, with only five players scoring more Bundesliga goals than him this season, namely Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, Patrik Schick, Jonathan Burkardt, Tim Kleindienst, despite his winter departure.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described Marmoush as a “proper maverick”, while Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines documents how he is a ‘versatile player’ who is ‘capable of being important in every phase of play’, praising his ‘technical skills, tactical understanding, and strong work ethic’.

Meantime, Karim El-Shesheiny of Total Football Analysis outlines how the Egyptian can be deployed in many ‘different positions’ across the forward line, adding that he is more ‘dynamic’ than most other forwards, while also ‘good at defending’ out of possession.

So, what is clear is that Marmoush is a very well-rounded attacker, both capable of creating chances, but also scoring them himself from all distances.

Thus, while many of Europe’s biggest clubs are searching for a new striker, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus and many more, Man City managed to snap one up, even though they already have Erling Haaland in their ranks of course, a duo most teams around the world will be envious of.

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Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign a young forward with a big future in the game, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd have one foot in Europa League final

The Red Devils are in dream land after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie with Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, having won 3-0 in Spain. After taking the lead through Casemiro, following brilliant work from Harry Maguire on the right wing, Bruno Fernandes doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after the hosts were reduced to 10 men.

Fernandes continued his superb form with his second of the night before half-time, and United saw out the second half in professional fashion, ensuring they take a 3-0 lead with them back to Old Trafford next Thursday.

In the other semi-final, Tottenham won 3-1 at home to Bodo/Glimt, meaning there is now a strong possibility of an all-English final in Bilbao later this month, with both teams knowing that victory will book a place in next season’s Champions League. That will aid their hopes of signing top players this summer, and a key Red Devils transfer update has now emerged.

Man Utd agree deal to sign Enzo Kana-Biyik

Taking to X on Thursday evening, Romano claimed that Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Le Havre striker Enzo Kana Biyik on a five-year deal, with an official announcment ‘soon’.

United clearly need to sign proven players who can immediately hit the ground running next season, but bringing in top young talent is always essential, with the Red Devils known for snapping up teenage stars and turning them into world-beaters, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Wayne Rooney.

In Biyik, United look set to be signing a hugely exciting prospect, with the 18-year-old scoring nine goals in just 17 appearances for Le Havre’s Under-18s.

United are in need of a new striker this summer, with Rasmus Hojlund struggling badly for form and the jury also still arguably out on whether Joshua Zirkzee is at the level required.

97% passing: 8/10 Man Utd star is now as undroppable as Bruno & Casemiro

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While Biyik wouldn’t be the immediate solution – a proven No.9 has to be a primary summer target – the hope is that he will blossom into a key starter over as the years pass.

Favourites booked automatic place in final at Kia Oval, after one loss in group stages

Valkerie Baynes26-Jul-2025With a home T20 World Cup just a year away, the inaugural Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day offers an enticing stage for international and domestic aspirants alike.Surrey are the favourites on their home ground, especially as they are direct entrants to Sunday’s final, having lost just once all season (alongside a rain-affected tie with Essex). The team that beat them, however, are The Blaze, who take on the Bears in the semi-final.Bryony Smith, Surrey’s captain, is looking for a big score this season, having played 13 games for 225 runs at 17.30 with a strike rate of 125.00 and highest score of 44. But she knows she has it in her after a 33-ball 62 in a winning England Development XI against India, which acted as a warm-up to the international tour, which concluded on Tuesday.And while it won’t be at the forefront of her mind this weekend, Smith has set her sights on next year’s T20 World Cup as an opportunity to break into the senior England side. She played one ODI against West Indies way back in 2019 and 10 T20Is sporadically between 2018 and the tour of Ireland last September.Related

Kathryn Bryce stars as Blaze get back to winning ways

Surrey clinch Finals Day place defending 132 at The Blaze

Davina Perrin stars as Bears book spot at Finals Day

Chathli takes command as Surrey outmuscle Bears

Kelly, Boyce provide Blaze base for solid victory

“I feel like I’ve not had a real go at it yet,” Smith said. “I’ve been in and out of squads over the years, had that Ireland tour, but only ended up playing two games. So I see myself looking forward to the T20 World Cup next summer and that’s something I’m going to aim for.”I’m getting on with things here at Surrey and if England come calling that would be great but if not, we’ve got a good enough set-up here to play loads of games, so I’m happy doing that.”Danni Wyatt-Hodge, recruited by Surrey this season from the now-defunct Southern Vipers, is the third-highest run-scorer in the competition with 372 at 62.00 and a strike rate of 158.29. She racked up five half-centuries from eight games, played around her duties with England’s T20I side, with a best of 74 not out.Wyatt-Hodge was left out of England’s ODI squad this summer with a World Cup looming in October, and it won’t only be national head coach Charlotte Edwards who might be keeping an eye on Surrey’s gun fielder with a view to strengthening that department.”We’ve seen what Danni Wyatt-Hodge has done for us throughout the comp,” Smith said. “She played the first eight games for us and was leading run-scorer and to have her in your team is massive, not just with the bat but with the field as well.”She’s new to us this year but she’s fitted in so well and she loves batting here at The Oval, so we’re excited to see what happens.”Sarah Bryce and Kathryn Bryce were instrumental in the Blaze’s victory in last year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, the previous T20 women’s competition•Getty ImagesThe hosts qualified for Finals Day when they defended 132 for 9 to beat The Blaze on July 11, Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Kalea Moore taking two wickets each to restrict The Blaze to 122 for 5 despite an unbeaten fifty from Kathryn Bryce.And while the win was arguably more gritty than pretty, Surrey got the job done and Smith believes her side’s all-round strength and depth has been their best asset.”We’ve had to use a lot of players so far this comp with England duties and England A girls away as well, so it’s been a real squad effort,” Smith said. “We’ve got top-class players throughout the order and we have that real trust in each other to go out and play your own game, no matter what the situation.”Some of the scores we’ve produced, we back ourselves to chase anything, and then we’ve got the bowlers and the fielders to back that up as well. We’ve been able to protect low scores.”You see that Blaze game… our fielders pretty much won us that game. We’ve got an all-round package and that closeness within the group is something that we really rely on.”The Blaze and Bears have won eight games each this season but the Bears have five losses against them compared to The Blaze’s two. The sides tied in the opening match of the season while the Bears won by 25 runs in the return fixture.The Bears boast the competition’s second-highest run-scorer, Davina Perrin, and the second-leading wicket-taker in left-arm wrist-spinner Millie Taylor with 19 at 16.10 and an economy rate of 7.46 with best figures of 3 for 13. Bryce is third on the wicket-taker’s list with 17 at 14.82 and 6.66 with a best of 4 for 13.Surrey defeated Warwickshire in a dead rubber in their final match of the regular season with Kira Chathli striking a timely half-century during a second-wicket stand of 93 with big-hitting Australian Grace Harris.That was before Harris’s sister, Laura, responded with a 42 off just 14 balls, although Surrey’s bowlers swung the match back in their favour to claim the upper hand ahead of the season’s showcase.

India are in transition but the leader of their attack in the West Indies stepped up big time

Alagappan Muthu24-Jul-20231:01

Dasgupta: Siraj led the pace attack under pressure

“In the morning, we chatted about it, that the wicket was tough to bowl on. It’s slow and nothing is happening, like seam movement or spin. At the end, there was some turn but overall it was very easy for batting.”Their batting was also very defensive. So there were no chances for us because they didn’t play any attacking shots. To sum up our effort, it was great from our bowlers and each one of them did what was expected of them.”A little over 12 hours after India’s bowling coach Paras Mhambrey said all of that, he was watching his boys cut through the West Indies line-up.The missing link between India needing 67 overs to pick up four first-innings wickets on Saturday but only 7.4 to pick up five on Sunday was the new ball. It swung.This was a significant window of opportunity, which came with the catch that it was likely to be a small one. These are the moments that a good team seizes.India have been at this crossroads many times in overseas Test matches. Two of the more high-profile ones turned on the back of not so much the mistakes themselves but the timing of them. Their collapse on the sixth day of the first World Test Championship final and their letting Travis Head off the hook by never inviting him to hook when he was new to the crease in the most recent World Test Championship final.That hurt will never go away. Like 8-0 in 2011-12 never went away. In fact, a straight line can be traced from there to India having much improved fast bowling stocks. Perhaps in a similar way, the limitations that cost them those two ICC titles will now help them build once again.2:38

Siraj: Taking a five-for on a flat wicket isn’t easy

There were some good signs in Port-of-Spain, particularly from Mohammed Siraj. Did you know that he has been among the toughest quick bowlers to face in the last year? He has induced a false shot 211 times in 13 innings. And that’s while playing on the raging turners of Mirpur and Nagpur. The featherbed at Ahmedabad. And of course, this one here at the Queen’s Park Oval. The other quicks above him – there are 11 – the likes of Stuart Broad and Mitchell Starc and Matt Henry and Kagiso Radaba tend to play at venues much more suitable to their craft.Only a few minutes after Siraj walked back to the pavilion having bowled 3.4 overs for 13 runs and four wickets on the fourth morning, West Indies leaked 100 runs in 12.2 overs. This guy is that good and he has worked really hard for it. He didn’t rest on having a top-notch outswinger to the right-hand batters. He went out and found a way to bring the ball back into them. He knew that in order to be great, he had to test both edges of the bat. He had to create that uncertainty. In some of symmetry’s best work, two of his wickets came from balls leaving the right-hand batters and the other two from balls snarling back into them. Jason Holder’s downfall had the added subtlety of a bowler going wide of the crease to trick the batter into playing the angle, and therefore playing inside the line to be nicked off.Siraj is dangerously close to being a complete fast bowler. And he has only been playing Test cricket for two-and-a-half years.Mukesh Kumar looks a quick study as well. The control he offered on day three was crucial. The wickets he took were also significant. He had Alick Athanaze lbw with conventional swing. He used reverse seam – the ball moving off the pitch in the direction of the shine – to subdue Kirk McKenzie. And he hounded Kraigg Brathwaite on the front foot because he knew that’s the one place on a cricket field he doesn’t feel comfortable. On a quicker pitch, he might have had him lbw too.India have dominated this tour but that was expected when they were up against a team ranked eighth and a batting line-up that has routinely underperformed. Even so, the fact that they made what needed to happen happen – a collapse so that they can get in to bat early and set the pace in order to leave themselves enough time to bowl West Indies out again – will please the team management. They know they are in the middle of a transition but it is entirely possible that they’re relishing the hell out of it. Mhambrey’s smile as he greeted Siraj, who returned to the dressing room with the ball held aloft, was a dead giveaway.

They might not make it to the knockouts, but this generation of Namibia cricketers can certainly leave behind a legacy to be proud of

Peter Della Penna23-Oct-2021

Big picture

If making their first appearance in a T20 World Cup wasn’t enough of an achievement, Namibia have gone not just one but two better: a first victory over a Test-playing nation, and qualification to the Super 12s. At this stage, Namibia are playing with house money.Nobody will expect them to win three games to be in with a shot at qualifying for the semi-finals, at least not with group matches against Afghanistan, New Zealand, India and Pakistan, not to mention Scotland, the fellow Associates. Not having that burden of expectation just might give them the license to throw their chips on the table and let it ride.Players such as Gerhard Erasmus and Stephan Baard, both of whom have served as captains for Namibia at the Under-19 and senior levels, have been quoted in interviews saying how they were inspired as young boys growing up in Namibia by the deeds of Namibia’s 2003 50-over World Cup squad. It didn’t matter that they lost every game. What mattered was that they took the field to stand shoulder to shoulder, toe to toe, against the likes of Andy Flower, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar.Related

• Albie Morkel: 'Cricket was a dying sport in Namibia, but people have started watching again'

• Gerhard Erasmus expects 'nice momentum' to keep Namibia's dream run alive

• Namibia live out their desert dream

• Wiese passes Sharjah pitch test with flying colours

But whereas the 2003 Namibia squad was made up of players who were doctors and policemen, and held various other nine-to-five jobs, these players are full-time professionals. Securing ODI status in 2019 has opened the door for Erasmus to commit himself full-time to cricket, and delay a career putting his law school degree to use. Cricket Namibia is now reaping the rewards of that extra funding that could be invested in player development.The success against Ireland to vault into the Super 12s has instilled new-found belief into the likes of Erasmus and the rest of his charges. If he was inspired simply by seeing the likes of Rudi van Vuuren and Deon Kotze stand on the field against such illustrious names of the 2000s, one can only imagine what it may do for the next generation in Namibia if Erasmus’s men not only take the field against some of the Full Member heavyweights, but actually trump a team led by Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi, Babar Azam or Virat Kohli.

Recent form

For anyone sleeping under a rock for the last week, Namibia are riding high after taking two wins out of three in the opening round of the tournament. But that is just a continuation of their outstanding form in 2021. Namibia have won eight of nine T20Is in the calendar year, including three matches earlier in October against UAE, PNG and Scotland, the last of which was a dominant five-wicket win chasing a target of 138 with 14 balls to spare. Even though Scotland won their qualifying group, which included a win over Bangladesh, Namibia are arguably favourites in that Super 12 encounter before they square off against their Full Member slate.Gerhard Erasmus and David Wiese have been part of many good things for Namibia of late•ICC via Getty

Batting

This is the stronger side of Namibia’s game. One of the fascinating parts of Namibia’s win over Ireland to end the opening round was the on-air television commentary discussion centered on who should be promoted in the order to give the innings a spark after a slow powerplay. The main argument was that JJ Smit should have been sent in to crack a few boundaries and get the innings in gear. He wound up not even being needed after the tremendous partnership between Erasmus and David Wiese took Namibia home. Just as remarkably, Baard – who is their third-highest scorer in T20Is and second-highest in all T20s – was left out of the XI after a string of low scores throughout October. But when in form, Baard can be devastating, as can the versatile Craig Williams, who is one of just two Namibians – along with Louis van der Westhuizen – to have multiple centuries in their T20 career. The point is, this is not just a two-man band with Erasmus and Wiese.

Bowling

There isn’t anybody who would be characterized as express on the bowling side, but T20 has brought out their clever bag of tricks. The left-arm trio of Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann and Jan Frylinck can hit their cutters and yorkers when called upon and Wiese’s arrival has added a level of experience to take the pressure off some of the younger men in that group when sticky situational match-ups arise. Though Frylinck’s 3 for 21 was lost in the shuffle of the heroics produced by Wiese and Erasmus in the chase, it was no less pivotal in the win over Ireland. On the spin-bowling side, Bernard Scholtz was the leading spin bowler at the global qualifier two years ago in the UAE and resumed his quietly tidy and efficient spells in the opening round. Against sides packed with left-handers, the option to select Pikky Ya France as an offspinner is also open for Namibia to maintain balance in the side.

Player to watch

Most people might call on Wiese as Namibia’s trump card, but he himself said upon accepting the Player of the Match award in the win over Ireland that it should have gone to captain Erasmus. Groomed as a future captain from the time he made his senior team debut as a lanky 16-year-old against Ireland in Belfast in the 2011 Intercontinental Cup, Erasmus is the heartbeat of the squad. He bats with intelligence – no better evidence than his constant pursuit of pinching low-risk twos rather than slogging for boundaries on a tricky Sharjah surface against Ireland – but can ramp up the intensity when required as demonstrated by a memorable sequence of four sixes in a row against Singapore during the 2019 global qualifier. He’s their best player of spin, their best all-round fielder, and though he only bowled one over in the opening round, his handy part-time offspin could become an increasingly key factor in the Super 12s.

Key question

How to get the best out of Craig Williams?The 37-year-old stalwart was in red-hot form entering the tournament with four consecutive T20I fifties, and also top-scored with 29 against Sri Lanka. Prior to 2021, he spent his entire T20I career batting in the middle-order, but post-pandemic has shifted between opening and coming in at No. 3. He started off the tournament at No. 3, but due to Baard’s struggles was promoted to open against Ireland and made 15 off 16. If he does end up staying at the top, his success or failure will also depend on the ability of his partner to get Williams on strike. The few times Williams struck boundaries against Ireland, he struggled to stay in rhythm because Zane Green was blocking, leaving and chewing up dot balls at the opposite end. Whoever is batting with Williams needs to focus on singles and get off strike to let the old pro work his magic.Likely XI: 1 Stephan Baard, 2 Zane Green (wk), 3 Craig Williams, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 David Wiese, 6 JJ Smit, 7 Jan Frylinck, 8 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, 9 Pikky Ya France, 10 Ruben Trumpelmann, 11 Bernard Scholtz

When the Blue Jays signed All-Star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500 million contract extension in April, the news was met with some mixed responses from the general baseball public.

Here was a homegrown star, a born Canadian who, with just one year left until free agency and after a lengthy and at times testy negotiation process, was pledging to spend the rest of his career in Toronto. For an MVP-caliber player entering his age-26 season, it was the kind of day that organizations dream about.

Except there was a way to view the decision as a desperation move, one made by a gambler who’s barely hanging onto their seat at the table deciding to push a dwindling chip stack all in. The Jays were coming off of a last-place finish that followed three playoff runs in four years, each ending with a wild-card round sweep. To some (including a certain writer), the organization’s contention window was closing, if not already shut. In gambling parlance, this was throwing good money after bad.

Four-plus months into the 2025 season, and it appears that Toronto’s big bet is paying off.

Entering play on Wednesday, the Blue Jays have the best record in the American League. Playoff odds that began at 40% on Opening Day, per FanGraphs, have soared to 98.7%. Barring a horrible collapse, Toronto will be alive and well in October, and has a good chance of earning a spot directly into the division series.

Beyond simply pledging half a billion dollars to Guerrero, the path to where the Blue Jays currently find themselves is paved with even more gambles on in-house talent returning to form and fueling Toronto’s surge.

For years, the Blue Jays have far too often (for their fans’ liking, at least) played the role of bridesmaid rather than bride. Highly publicized free agent chases of Shohei Ohtani (a private plane ride from California to Toronto carrying Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec of fame caused international confusion) and Juan Soto (agent Scott Boras said Toronto impressed the now-Met with a “great offer”) came up empty, as did bids at landing Corbin Burnes and Teoscar Hernández.

Toronto was looking high and low for reinforcements, but the big fish the organization chased weren’t biting.

And the ones that did end up joining the Blue Jays haven’t panned out as hoped. Anthony Santander, who inked a five-year, $92.5 million deal in January, managed a .179 average in 50 games before landing on the injured list. Closer Jeff Hoffman signed for $33 million, and has so far posted a 4.41 ERA with five blown saves. All-Star second baseman Andrés Giménez, acquired in a December trade from the Guardians, has battled injuries amid his worst offensive season (74 OPS+ in 62 games).

Instead of the cavalry coming to save the day, it’s been improvements from players already on the roster that have spurred the Blue Jays’ climb.