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Searching for a much-needed centre-back, Liverpool are now reportedly prepared to take a key step towards their attempt to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund.

Their chase to sign the Bundesliga defender comes as no surprise. Arne Slot was left with little choice but to play Andy Robertson centre-back in an attempt to rest both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate against Crystal Palace. The season-ending injury to Giovanni Leoni left the Reds with just three senior centre-backs and only compiled their current misery.

Things could have been so different had they signed Marc Guehi, of course, but those at Anfield now face a battle to land his signature for free next summer. Missing out on the Crystal Palace star a year on from coming within hours of securing his arrival would be an undeniable blow.

Six defeats in seven games have exposed Liverpool’s defensive problems so soon after missing out on Guehi in the summer and they must find a solution in 2026.

What certainly doesn’t help is the contract situation of Ibrahima Konate. The Frenchman is yet to sign a new deal and is on course to leave Anfield as a free agent in the summer. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk will be into the final year of his deal at the same time – sparking a potential crisis for the Reds.

Preparations are seemingly underway for such a scenario, with names such as Dayot Upamecano recently mentioned as reported targets, but replacing both Konate and Van Dijk would almost be an impossible task.

One player who holds similar attributes to Van Dijk, however, is Schlotterbeck. The Dortmund defender has caught Liverpool’s eye and Michael Edwards is now ready to take a key step towards his signature.

Liverpool preparing to match Schlotterbeck demand

As reported by Bild in Germany and relayed by Sport Witness, Liverpool are now prepared to match Schlotterbeck’s wage demands.

Liverpool learn true price for Ezri Konsa as PSR forces Aston Villa's hand

The Reds desperately need another central defender.

1 ByTom Cunningham Oct 30, 2025

The 25-year-old has reportedly rejected Dortmund’s €8m-a-year (£7m) contract offer and wants to earn in the region of €14m-a-year (£13m) instead, which would be up from his current €5m-a-year (£4m) deal.

That’s something that the German club are yet to match, but something that Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are ready to hand the defender.

Money talks on the European stage and Liverpool will hope that proves true in the summer as Schlotterbeck continues to impress.

Minutes

450

810

Progressive Passes

7

6.22

Successful Aerial Duels

1.60

5.11

Ball Recoveries

5.60

2.33

Whilst there will be concerns over Schlotterbeck’s struggles in the air, his passing range more than makes up for that. Completing seven progressive passes per-90 so far this season, the Dortmund star would solve Liverpool’s build-up problem almost instantly.

Described as “underrated” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Liverpool should go all out for Schlotterbeck in 2025. Not only is he good enough to replace Konate, but he could even become their Van Dijk heir in the coming years.

Why Arne Slot was left stunned in Liverpool press conference before Aston Villa

The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the tournament, which is expected to be held in the UAE in September

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2025

Aminul Islam greets Mohsin Naqvi upon the latter’s arrival in Dhaka•BCB

The fate of this year’s Asia Cup, which was thrown into uncertainty following the India-Pakistan military skirmish in May, could be decided at the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) annual general meeting in Dhaka on Thursday.The BCCI will attend the meeting virtually, and there is no clarity yet on whether Sri Lanka Cricket will attend virtually or an official will travel to Dhaka. For the BCCI, Rajeev Shukla will be the representative. There was even talk of Afghanistan and Oman missing the meeting, but they will now attend, while Nepal, like the BCCI, will participate virtually.The Asia Cup is one of the major points of discussion at the meeting. The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the eight-team tournament, even though the matches are expected to be played in the UAE in September.It is the first time that the BCB is hosting a high-level ACC meeting. Board president Aminul Islam said that the BCB was only providing logistical support to the ACC and didn’t comment on certain boards not sending their representatives.”We agreed with the ACC to organise this year’s AGM,” Aminul said on Tuesday. “It is an ACC programme. We are providing them with logistical support. That’s all we are doing. We are in touch with the ACC, who is informing us who is coming and who is not, as we have to make arrangements for airport pick-ups, hotel bookings and other support.”On Wednesday, Aminul and BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury received Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB and ACC boss, at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A gala dinner is scheduled in the evening, followed by two days of the meeting at a hotel in Dhaka.

Manchester United have endured a phenomenal upturn in form over the last couple of weeks, as seen by their run of three Premier League victories in a row.

Ruben Amorim appears to be finally silencing the doubters, after being subject to countless barrages of criticism from supporters and pundits across the country.

However, his work in the transfer window is largely to thank, with his additions from the recent summer transfer window already having an immediate impact at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo arrived in a £71m deal from Brentford and has already taken the role as the Red Devils’ main talisman, as seen by his tally of five goals in his first nine league outings.

Despite the additions within the final third, Amorim and the hierarchy are still hunting for a new central midfielder to take the first-team squad to the next level in the near future.

Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January

Over the last couple of months, United have been hugely touted with a winter move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, after his phenomenal start to the 2025/26 season.

The 22-year-old has started all nine Premier League games to date, resulting in his maiden England call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad – subsequently cementing his place as a regular starter.

However, any deal could prove to be a somewhat expensive one, with Sean Dyche’s side currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m for his signature.

He’s not the English midfielder currently in their sights, with Borussia Dortmund star Jobe Bellingham another target for the Red Devils, according to one Spanish outlet.

They have reported that Amorim’s side are preparing a €50m (£42m) offer for the 20-year-old despite only joining the Bundesliga outfit back in the recent summer transfer window.

It also states that the player is growing frustrated with his lack of minutes, having only started two league outings in 2025/26 and featured for a total of 208 minutes.

Why United’s £42m target would be the perfect Casemiro replacement

Many United fans expected Casemiro’s minutes at United to be extremely limited this season after struggling to impress, some Amorim took the reins back in November last year.

The Brazilian, who’s now 33, has even been called into question by numerous pundits over the last few years, many of whom have claimed he’s no longer at the level required for the Premier League.

Jamie Carragher infamously said that ‘the football has left him’ and recommended that the former Real Madrid star move to Saudi Arabia or America to end his career.

However, he’s been a key component of Amorim’s side this campaign, subsequently featuring in eight of the nine league outings – even scoring twice and notching an assist.

Casemiro’s latest goal came in the recent triumph over Brighton and Hove Albion, stepping up to the plate when the manager and team needed him most.

Despite his recent form at Old Trafford, there’s little denying he’s entering the final years of his career at the top level, with his current deal at the Red Devils set to expire in the summer of 2026.

The supporters shouldn’t worry about a potential departure, especially if the rumours around a move for Bellingham come to fruition in the winter or summer transfer window.

Whilst the Englishman has struggled for action in the current season, he’s still managed to produce numerous incredible stats that would see him be a monster hit with the fans in Manchester.

Bellingham, who’s been labelled “one of the best midfielders” by the Second Tier Podcast, has completed 88% of his attempted, whilst ranking in the 89th percentile for touches per 90.

Games played

8

Minutes played

208

Pass accuracy

88%

Touches per 90

84.8

Tackles made

2.2

Duels won

6.5

Aerials won

71%

Fouls won

1.7

Such figures highlight his incredible ability with the balm at his feet, with such a skillset adding yet another talented technician to the heart of Amorim’s first-team squad.

Out of possession, the youngster has been just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 to date, whilst also winning 6.5 duels per 90 – highlighting his workmanlike style.

Other tallies, such as a 71% aerial duel success rate and 1.7 fouls won per 90, showcase his all-round ability, which has made him a constant nuisance to countless opponents.

£42m may seem a hefty sum of money for the Dortmund star, but it certainly could prove to be a fantastic piece of business if he reaches his full potential.

At just 20, he has bags of time to develop further, whilst also offering the club a long-term replacement for the experienced Casemiro into 2026/27 and beyond.

Not Mbeumo: Man Utd's "world-class" star is now becoming Amorim's new Bruno

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one star who could reach Bruno Fernandes’ level.

1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 28, 2025

Worcestershire bowled out for 143 before Keaton Jennings, Liam Livingstone steer comfortable chase

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jun-2025Lancashire Lightning continued their strong start to the Vitality Blast with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Worcestershire Rapids at Visit Worcestershire New Road.Rapids, having chosen to bat, were bowled out for 143 in 19.1 overs. Only Gareth Roderick (35 from 28 balls) resisted for long as the innings failed to recover from early damage inflicted by James Anderson and Luke Wood.Lightning reeled in the target with 15 balls to spare, reaching 146 for 3 thanks to a solid top-order effort headed by Keaton Jennings (42 off 37) and Liam Livingstone (41 not out off 22).Rapids won the toss but lost both openers in the first seven balls. Brett D’Oliveira edged his first ball, from Anderson, to slip and Wood struck with his first ball when he trapped Ed Pollock lbw.Jake Libby pulled Anderson for six and almost did the same to Wood only to be denied by a stunning one-handed catch by Jack Blatherwick just inside the long leg rope. Wood’s third wicket followed when Ethan Brookes pulled to midwicket and when, next ball, Adam Hose edged Tom Aspinwall to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst, the Rapids were 46 for 5, one ball out of the powerplay.Roderick and Ben Dwarhuis arrested the slide with a stand of 46 in 29 balls before the latter pulled Aspinwall to deep midwicket. Lancashire’s catching was top-drawer and when Matthew Waite sought six over fine leg off Blatherwick, Michael Jones judged the catch perfectly despite the pressure of knowing one backward step would take him over the rope.Roderick’s defiance ended when he sliced Anderson to third. That left Rapids’ last two wickets with 27 balls at their disposal. Jacob Duffy heaved Wood to the foot of the chestnut tree in a violent unbeaten 24 off 12 to at least give him something to bowl at but Rapids were well short.The home side desperately needed early wickets but took only one in the powerplay, Luke Wells, who edged Tom Taylor to wicketkeeper Roderick. Jennings and Matty Hurst added 63 in 46 balls and when Hurst was well-caught at long leg by Duffy, his belligerent cameo had, with Jennings, left Lancashire well in charge of the chase.Jennings bottom-edged a pull at Waite to the keeper but Livingstone smote D’Oliveira’s first two balls into the D’Oliveira Stand to reassert Lightning’s momentum. Despite fast-fading light, vastly experienced pair Livingstone and Ashton Turner saw their side comfortably home. They added an unbroken stand of 62 in 33 balls, Livingstone sealing the win with a pull into the aforementioned chestnut tree.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has now personally requested the board sign a “special” star, with a £105m opening offer now in the works.

Man City looking to sign successor to Rodri

After spending the majority of the 2024-25 campaign sidelined due to an ACL injury, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri is starting to show signs he is getting back to his best, most notably impressing in the 2-0 Champions League victory over Napoli.

The Spaniard received an 8.3 SofaScore match rating against the Italian side, the second-highest of any City player, after making a number of key contributions and touching the ball 109 times, more than anyone else on the pitch.

Statistic

Number completed

Duels won

6

Accurate passes

87/95 (92%)

Key passes

3

Defensive actions

6

Esteemed Kompany’s Steven McInerney also sung the central midfielder’s praises after his display against the Serie A champions, but it has since emerged that Guardiola is now running the rule over potential long-term successors.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Pep is keen on Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic as an heir to Rodri, and the manager has now set his sights on a different young midfielder.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Pep has personally requested the Man City board sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves, with the manager said to be a keen admirer of the midfielder.

Such is City’s level of interest, they are already preparing a massive initial offer of €120m (£105m) for Neves, but it could be difficult to tempt the French club into a sale.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 18, 2025

The 20-year-old is regarded as an essential part of PSG’s project, given that the youngster has already established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position, so his current employers are extremely hesitant to sanction a departure.

"Special" Neves would be statement signing for Man City

It seems like it will be very difficult to get a deal done, but the Portuguese maestro could be a statement signing for the Blues, with scout Ben Mattinson suggesting he is destined for the very top.

Much like Rodri, the PSG star is an incredibly well-rounded midfielder, placing in the 96th percentile for tackles per 90, the 97th percentile for pass-completion rate, and the 92nd percentile for non-penalty goals over the past year, compared to other midfielders.

Despite his age, the starlet is already vastly experienced at the highest level, making 17 Champions League appearances en-route to PSG’s maiden triumph last season, which suggests he could be a top signing for Man City.

That said, given that Neves remains under contract until 2029, PSG should be in a strong negotiating position, and it remains to be seen whether he would even be willing to leave the reigning European champions.

Queensland were bundled out for 95 before 19-year-old Vidler responded with 4 for 33 to curb South Australia’s lead

Alex Malcolm26-Mar-2025

Brendan Doggett dismantled Queensland’s first innings•Getty Images

The fringe and the future of Australian fast bowling was on display on day one of the Sheffield Shield final with Brendan Doggett taking six wickets to roll Queensland for 95 before 19-year-old Callum Vidler took four to ensure South Australia did not run away with the game on a dramatic day at Karen Rolton Oval where 16 wickets fell.Doggett tore through Queensland’s line-up to bowl them out for the lowest first innings total in Shield final history. He took his best ever figures in Shield cricket of 6 for 31 and his second five-wicket haul in a final, having done it previously for Queensland in the 2017-18 decider. He also became the 10th bowler to take multiple five-wicket hauls in a final. Queensland’s total was also the third-lowest in Shield history in any innings.Related

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From rock-bottom to title favourites: How South Australia learned to believe again

Vidler then responded with a stunning display that was reminiscent of Pat Cummins’ breakout performance in a Shield final as a 17-year-old in 2011. Vidler showcased high pace, swing and accuracy in just his third first-class game to claim 4 for 33, including Test batters Alex Carey and Nathan McSweeney.But when Vidler ran out of gas late in the day, Jake Lehmann continued his phenomenal form to finish 42 not out at stumps, sharing an unbeaten 45-run stand with Ben Manenti, who finished 36 not out to push the hosts to 158 for 6 and a priceless lead of 63 that had been earned by some hard work from opener Conor McInerney who made a vital 38 against the new ball.Doggett made the most of some excellent morning bowling conditions after McSweeney made the unusual decision to bowl first at Karen Rolton Oval given the surface looked far more seam-friendly than usual. The ball swung consistently with Queensland’s batters unable to handle it.Nathan McAndrew celebrates the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne•Getty Images

Doggett made the first breakthrough after coming on first change, removing Usman Khawaja for a tortured 2 off 28 deliveries when he pulled a short ball down fine leg’s throat. But Khawaja should not have survived that long.Nathan McAndrew had him dropped twice in the slips. He edged the third ball of the match to Manenti at second and he failed to hold onto the low chance. In the seventh over, McAndrew’s fourth, Khawaja edged a near identical delivery that angled in and swung away. It floated waist high to McSweeney at first slip and he grassed the simple chance.The weight of the 29-year Shield drought looked heavy on the entire team at that point. But the tide quickly shifted after Khawaja holed out.McAndrew endured more bad luck when Marnus Labuschagne defended a ball onto his heel and it rolled into leg stump at speed but did not knock off the leg bail. However, McAndrew’s frustration turned to elation next ball when Labuschagne glanced a catch to Lehmann at a well-placed leg gully to fall for a seven-ball duck.The next delivery Jack Clayton made a bizarre call. He defended a ball into the offside and took off for a single that was never. Opener Angus Lovell, who was a late inclusion for Queensland after Matthew Renshaw had to fly home for the birth of his second child, rightly sent Clayton back. Liam Scott swooped having been stationed very close at mid-off to prevent the single and produced a direct hit before Clayton could scramble back.How a drawn final is decided

In the event the Sheffield Shield final ends in a draw, the title will be decided on first-innings bonus points which are accrued across the first 100 overs.

Batting teams earn 0.01 of a bonus point for every run scored over 200 in the initial 100 overs; bowling sides get 0.1 of a bonus point for every wicket in the first 100 overs. For example, the batting side scores 350 all out in 90 overs they earn 1.5 points and the bowling side 1 point.

Should bonus points be tied and the match drawn, SA will win the Shield given they finished top of the ladder and earned hosting rights for the final.

Queensland quickly slumped from 16 for 3 to 22 for 5. Lovell had survived two very close lbw shouts and having hit the pad with a sharp offcutter, Doggett found Lovell’s outside edge with a perfect outswinger to have him caught behind.Three overs later Ben McDermott chipped a poorly executed drive back to Jordan Buckingham who held on with two bites. Replays were needed to examine if Buckingham had overstepped the front line but the inconclusive evidence meant McDermott was given out.Michael Neser and Jimmy Peirson dug in just as they had done a week ago when they rescued Queensland from 86 for 5 to ensure a draw that got them into the final. Neser struck six boundaries in an excellent counterattack given the ball was still swinging consistently. But after a 46-run stand that got Queensland past lunch, Doggett struck twice in two overs.Peirson shuffled across too far to a ball that thundered into his front pad and was adjudged lbw. Neser had played and missed a few times in between playing some glorious drives but finally nicked a lovely outswinger from Doggett to McSweeney at first slip who let out a sigh of relief after holding on.McAndrew claimed a richly-deserved second when he lured Jack Wildermuth into a leaden-footed drive to have him caught behind.Doggett completed his five-wicket haul by cleaning up Mitchell Swepson and closed out the innings when Mark Steketee clubbed to deep mid-onNineteen-year-old Callum Vidler was outstanding with the new ball•Getty Images

Vidler, 19, then copied the Doggett blueprint to keep Queensland in the game, showing that high-pace outswing is a method for success on this surface. Playing just his third first-class game, he was trusted to open the bowling ahead of Steketee and did not let his captain down.He bowled 11 straight deliveries at opener Henry Hunt without letting him score, although one ran off the pad for four leg byes. Off the 12th, in Vidler’s third over, Hunt’s eyes lit up at a fuller length but some late shape at pace caught the edge and Lovell held the sharp chance at third slip.He bowled 12 deliveries to McSweeney without letting him get off the mark before scratching his outside edge with an even better delivery. Vidler went slightly wider of the crease, angled in and shaped away as McSweeney tried to defend on the crease. It wasn’t going to carry to first slip and Peirson took a blinder diving full length to his right with one glove. At that point, Vidler had bowled five overs, four maidens and had 2 for 2.But the scoreboard was moving at the other end thanks to McInerney. There was some luck involved. He edged Steketee on 14 but McDermott failed to lay a hand on the sharp chance and Steketee’s poor luck continued when Jason Sangha offered a similar edge high to Lovell’s left.Ben Manenti added valuable lower-order runs•Getty Images

Sangha edged a wide half volley from Neser to leave SA vulnerable at 41 for 3, but Carey and McInerney learnt from the mistakes of their team-mates and went on the offensive.Carey struck two fours and a six to put pressure back on Queensland’s attack. McInerney gloved an attempted pull down the leg side off Wildermuth to leave SA 65 for 4.But Lehmann and Carey kept the pedal down. Lehmann created width at every opportunity carving several balls from a fourth stump line behind point. He also benefited from some strange captaincy from Labuschagne who bowled part-time medium pace and gave up 18 runs in four overs, including three boundaries and a six.Vidler returned from the other end to wreak more havoc. Carey chopped on for 24, hurried by the extra pace trying to pull. Liam Scott was also done for pace, gloving a short ball down the leg side.But Vidler understandably tired at the back end of a second six-over spell. Manenti clubbed a pull shot for six to get himself going before he and Lehmann cashed in on some slower and more wayward offerings from and under par Neser and Wildermuth to put South Australia in a strong position at stumps.

While RR could potentially bring in Hasaranga, KKR look unlikely to make changes despite a heavy defeat in their season-opener

Sreshth Shah25-Mar-20252:20

Will RR’s lack of allrounders prove costly?

Big picture – RR’s balance, KKR’s middle order in focusGuwahati has been an occasional home ground for Rajasthan Royals (RR) since 2023, but they’ve found little to cheer about here. RR have lost two of their three games here, while a fourth was a washout. But come Wednesday, there’ll be a different buzz because the city’s own Riyan Parag will captain RR – a historic occasion for the player and his state Assam.But Parag has a lot to ponder, more so after RR nearly conceded the highest IPL total ever against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The retained trio of Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer brought the batting muscle on a flat deck and rookie Shubham Dubey dazzled too, but when the bowlers leaked runs, Parag found himself out of options.He is designated as an allrounder, and would like to consider himself one too, but did not bowl, even though he tried Nitish Rana’s occasional offspin for one over. RR missed a genuine allrounder who could be their fifth or sixth bowler without sacrificing their batting.This isn’t an issue on good days, and RR have reached the playoffs in two of the last three seasons with a similar team balance, but on bad days it can leave them with nowhere to turn. A shuffle, such as finding a place for Wanindu Hasaranga or Parag trusting himself to bowl, could be the answer with their bowling looking to regain confidence.Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, have versatile all-rounders aplenty. The defeat in their season-opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru won’t shift them from their 2024 template, but their old middle and lower-middle order – consisting of Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh – contributed very little as KKR endured a below-par finish with the bat.Like RR’s bowlers against SRH, this area won’t always be an issue for KKR, but twice in a row could put them in early trouble, with Mumbai Indians awaiting them at the Wankhede next.The contest on Wednesday will be all about two teams looking to iron out their problems and find their first points.Can Jofra Archer put behind him the nightmare of going for 76 runs in four overs?•Getty ImagesNew loyalties – Nitish RanaFrom 2018 to 2024, Nitish Rana scored 2199 runs for KKR and became one of their senior players after being elevated to vice-captaincy. He was not one of the six players retained by the franchise after last season’s title and was signed by RR for INR 4.20 crore.Team news and likely XIIs – Will Hasaranga come in?Samson, recovering following finger surgery, is set to be RR’s impact player again. They are unlikely to drop Jofra Archer despite his 0 for 76 against SRH, the worst IPL figures of all time, but could look at bringing in Akash Madhwal for his yorker-bowling capabilities. Since Maheesh Theekshana usually bowls in the powerplay and KKR have spin-basher Sunil Narine as opener, he could be swapped out for Hasaranga.Rajasthan Royals: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Riyan Parag (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Shubham Dubey, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana/Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi, 12 Tushar Deshpande/Akash Madhwal.KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said after Saturday’s loss that he trusts his fast-bowling unit even if they are relatively inexperienced. They’ll most likely stay unchanged although Anrich Nortje is a potential replacement for Spencer Johnson if they think pace and short balls could make more of an impact than swing.Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Spencer Johnson/Anrich Nortje, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Vaibhav Arora.The big questionIt wasn’t that long ago that Hasaranga was the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler on the ICC rankings and he’s still at No. 4. He isn’t carrying an injury, so he was most likely left out for tactical reasons against SRH. Should RR find a way to involve Hasaranga?In the spotlight: Dhruv Jurel and Quinton de KockDhruv Jurel struck a 35-ball 70 against SRH, showing why RR trusted him with a retention and why he’s India’s current back-up T20I wicketkeeper, despite the wealth of options for that spot. RR look a bit short this season when bridging the gap between their top-order and lower-order hitters, and his role at No. 5 is important. He has superb T20 numbers against pace, as a strike rate of 162.56 would suggest, but he’s tended not to score as quickly against spin, going at 123.76 at this stage of his career. Against SRH, he fell to Adam Zampa and scored three runs off seven balls against the legspinner; how will he deal with the twin threats of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy?Last year, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup, was named as opener in ICC’s ODI team of the year, and was a superb replacement for Phil Salt in the playoffs and final during KKR’s winning campaign. Despite this, KKR picked Quinton de Kock as their first-choice wicketkeeper-opener this season. It’s time for de Kock to come good on the opportunity, especially since he’s not had a good time since his international retirement. IPL 2024 was his second-worst of all time (average of 22.72 in 11 games), while he managed just 159 runs in 10 innings at the SA20. De Kock has a tendency to be hit-or-miss, and with another hit-or-miss opener in Narine at the other end, KKR would want some reliability from one end.Andre Russell will hope for a return to form after a low score against RCB•Associated PressKey stats Archer has come into IPL 2025 on a poor run of form. When he keeps things quiet, he doesn’t get wickets. When he gets the wickets, he’s mightily expensive. In the 2024-25 season that just went by, Archer averaged 34.75 with an economy rate of 9.26. The average first-innings score in IPL games at the Barsapara Stadium is 180, with the team batting first having won twice and lost once. At 23 years and 133 days, Parag became the IPL’s fourth-youngest captain when he led RR against SRH. Virat Kohli (22y 187d), Steven Smith (22y 344d) and Suresh Raina (23y 112d) are the three above him on the list. Narine has a strike-rate of 191.30 against Sandeep Sharma (44 runs in 23 balls, one dismissal) but has been kept quiet by both Archer (9 off 13) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3 off 8 with one dismissal) in the past. Hasaranga’s wrong’un makes him a compelling option for RR with Russell averaging only 9.25 against googlies in the IPL (since 2022) and striking at only 115.63, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data. Against legbreaks, though, he crunches them at 153.70 and averages 41.50.Pitch and conditionsThe last time a RR vs KKR game was scheduled in Guwahati, it was a washout, but Wednesday promises to be dry. The Barsapara Stadium has been excellent for batting with three scores in the 190s in the IPL. India once scored 237 for 3 here and South Africa struck 221 for 3 in response, so we could see the first 200-plus IPL score in Guwahati on Wednesday.Next three fixturesRR stay in Guwahati to face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) next on Sunday, March 30, before travelling to Mullanpur to face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 5 and then to Ahmedabad where Gujarat Titans (GT) await them on April 9.KKR travel to Mumbai next to play MI on March 31, after which they return home for games against SRH on April 3 and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 6.Quotes”It’s been a journey. I was here when I was 17 years old. Most importantly, me being captain is secondary, but the trust that the management have shown in me, that’s one of the biggest points. That’s one of the biggest upvotes that I take personally as a player that they’re trusting me enough to lead the team and trusting me enough to make my own decisions.”
“Sport is about failing. You fail more often than you succeed. But for a champion like Russ [Russell], it must be weighing on his mind that he failed last game. He’s out to prove every single game. We are also hoping Russ would come really good on this game.”

Left-arm quick joins Renegades on a three-year deal after he was not guaranteed a contract with Perth Scorchers

Alex Malcolm28-Jan-2025Jason Behrendorff has become the first major free agent signing in the BBL’s new player movement window with Melbourne Renegades securing the left-arm seamer on a three-year deal after Perth Scorchers were not able to guarantee him a contract.Behrendorff, who turns 35 in April, has won four BBL titles with Scorchers over a 13-year 106-game career. He had an excellent 2024-25 BBL season, making the team of year for the first time as the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets at 17.41 and an economy rate of 7.55. Only Mark Steketee had a better economy rate among the top 10 wicket-takers this season.It is understood that Behrendorff was hopeful of being a one club player in the BBL, having played his entire domestic career in Western Australia since moving from Canberra as a 19-year-old, and is second behind AJ Tye on Scorchers’ all-time leading wicket-takers list with 140.Related

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But with Scorchers missing the finals for the first time in five seasons and only the third time in franchise history, the BBL’s most successful club had some decisions to make around the future of their list with Behrendorff, Tye and Mitchell Marsh all coming out of contract.Scorchers decided not to contract any of them among the maximum of 10 players they could lock in prior to the player movement window opening on Tuesday. Scorchers did something similar with their list back in 2019 when they last missed finals with Scorchers’ title-winning veterans Shaun Marsh and Nathan Coulter-Nile departing as the squad was regenerated before winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.Mitchell Marsh could still end up returning to Scorchers but it is understood that he is taking some time before making any contract decisions after losing his place in Australia’s Test side during the summer and opting out of Scorchers last three BBL matches to mentally and physically refresh ahead of the Champions Trophy.Renegades approached Behrendorff with a three-year deal that offered him security given he is now a freelance franchise player having stepped away from his state contract with WA last winter.Behrendorff, who is currently in South Africa playing for Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, took to social media to explain his decision in detail, saying that he left Perth with a heavy heart.”The Scorchers will always have a special place in my heart, I had always thought I would finish my BBL career in orange however that is not meant to be,” Behrendorff said. “I leave the club knowing I have given my all, I have seriously enjoyed my time as an individual player and as a teammate. As a team we worked so hard and because of that we have been able to enjoy a lot of success, being a part of 4 BBL trophy’s has been a career highlight.”To all the players, it’s been so much fun boys. We have achieved so much together. I have so many wonderful memories that I’ll never forget.”Thank you to all of the staff, what an amazing group of people you all are. No one knows more than I do how hard you work behind the scenes and to help me be match fit, some seasons more than others.”To the fans, without your support playing the game wouldn’t be the same. The noise inside the Furnace when the team is on a roll is something to behold. I appreciate those of you who came along to fan days and stayed behind after games, getting to meet you and talk to you has been a privilege. Your support is something I certainly haven’t taken for granted and you really are some of the best fans in the league.”Moving to Melbourne has been something Juvelle [Behrendorff’s wife] and I have talked about as a goal whenever the end of my career happened so to be able to continue my career and play cricket in a city we both love is a blessing. I am really excited for what the next chapter holds for myself with the Melbourne Renegades but just as importantly for my family too.”Behrendorff’s deal with Renegades could also open the door to him playing for the Cricket Victoria run Major League Cricket franchise San Francisco Unicorns.

MatériaMais Notícias

No último domingo, o Palmeiras deu um grande passo para confirmar sua presença na briga pelo título do Brasileirão deste ano. A goleada por 5 a 0 sobre o Goiás é mais uma amostra de que se trata do time mais consistente do país, o que automaticamente o coloca entre os grandes favoritos em um campeonato de pontos corridos. Embora o adversário não tem sido daqueles que figuram entre os primeiros colocados, a vitória veio em uma rodada em que os principais rivais pela taça tropeçaram. Alguns, inclusive, ficaram bem para trás na classificação.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasMurilo passa por cirurgia no ombro direito e já deve iniciar recuperação no PalmeirasPalmeiras07/05/2023PalmeirasAbel explica sua ‘participação’ na quebra do jejum de Dudu no Palmeiras: ‘Sorte que não o tirei’Palmeiras07/05/2023PalmeirasVÍDEO: Os melhores momentos da goleada do Palmeiras diante do Goiás pelo BrasileirãoPalmeiras07/05/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Há quem possa dizer que a expulsão de Lucas Halter, do Esmeraldino, ainda no primeiro tempo, facilitou o caminho para a goleada alviverde. No entanto, o time de Abel Ferreira já era muito superior aos donos da casa, mas muito mesmo. O problema, algo que tem sido recorrente, é a enorme quantidade de chances que se perde. São várias e várias tomadas de decisão erradas, que dificultam o roteiro das partidas. Depois do 1 a 0, era para o Verdão ter uma frente maior antes mesmo de ficar com um jogador a mais em campo.

Basta observar que mesmo após a vantagem numérica, o Goiás ainda conseguiu se aproveitar das oscilações palmeirenses durante o jogo e criou espaços para levar perigo, enquanto o ataque paulista seguia desperdiçando jogadas promissoras. Somente na segunda etapa, quando a equipe ficou mais assertiva, é que os gols começaram a sair e facilitar a condução do jogo. Dali em diante Sidimar marcou contra, depois Raphael Veiga ampliou, seguido por Endrick e finalizando com Dudu. O placar foi o resumo da superioridade em vários sentidos.

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Obviamente é uma questão de gosto e opinião pessoal, mas hoje é difícil não colocar o Palmeiras como o melhor time do Brasil. Pode ser que alguns tenham melhores jogadores e outros joguem mais bonito, mas uma equipe tão completa e equilibrada quanto a de Abel Ferreira não há. Ela vai perder, como já perdeu duas vezes neste ano, ela vai mostrar defeitos, como mostra em todas as partidas, mas ela vai ser constante e consistente. E cá entre nós… Qual é a maior característica que um time precisa ter para levantar a taça do Brasileirão por pontos corridos?

+ ATUAÇÕES: Piquerez participa de três gols, e Dudu espanta seca em goleada do Palmeiras sobre o Goiás

Sim, a consistência. Embora não seja o líder da tabela neste momento, a invencibilidade e os resultados mostram que o Verdão dificilmente não estará entre aqueles que brigam pelo título. Basta olhar como estão os principais favoritos do campeonato. O Flamengo ocupa a 16ª posição, sete pontos atrás do Palmeiras. O Atlético-MG é o 15º, seis pontos atrás do Alviverde. Já o Fluminense, que está mais próximo na tabela, é o sexto, três pontos atrás do Palestra. Os três tropeçaram na rodada, sendo que dois primeiros citados perderam e o terceiro empatou.

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Neste momento, quem desponta como concorrente do Palmeiras ao título é o Botafogo, com 100% de aproveitamento em quatro jogos, e o Fortaleza, que se vencer o Corinthians nesta segunda-feira iguala o Alviverde em pontos na classificação. Duas equipes que, teoricamente, não estão entre os favoritos elencados antes do início do campeonato, mas se mantiverem o que vêm fazendo, certamente estarão na briga. Ainda é cedo para definir qualquer cenário de favoritismo, mas parece ser quase impossível não colocar o Verdão no topo dessa lista.

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Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a Barcelona star, who is regarded as “the best in the world in his position”, journalist Fabrice Hawkins has revealed.

Man City looking to sign defender amid Akanji uncertainty

Pep Guardiola’s rebuild is well underway, and there could still be a few more departures to make way for new arrivals, with Manuel Akanji now being targeted by Galatasaray, following criticism from supporters for some of his performances last season.

City expert Steven McInerney believes it could be best for all parties if Akanji is moved on this summer, alongside a number of other players, saying: “I’m fine with it. I definitely feel the more (players) that move on right now it’s a good thing. I’m not one for pushing people out the door, but I think Akanji was probably at the scene of the crime far too many times last season.

“He’s obviously a good player, but I think he’s another that has had the post-treble malaise. It’s definitely a thing at City where you can see some players have reached the top of the mountain and the only way is down a little bit.”

Man City ready to submit £51m bid to sign top target to replace Ederson

Man City are now working on a deal to sign their top target this summer.

By
Brett Worthington

Jul 22, 2025

Consequently, Guardiola may need to bring in a new centre-back this summer, while it has been clear for quite some time that the manager is keen on a new right-back, with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries and Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento on the shortlist.

As such, it could be a clever move to sign a versatile defender capable of playing in both of the aforementioned positions, and Man City have now made contact over a deal for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, according to an update from Hawkins on X.

Kounde is currently in negotiations over a new contract, with the La Liga club viewing the defender as “the best in the world in his position”, but the Blues are now hoping to lure him to the Etihad Stadium.

Kounde could be statement signing for Man City

The Barcelona star is very assured in possession of the ball, which could make him a good fit in a Guardiola system, while he has also received extremely high praise from teammate and major Ballon d’Or contender Lamine Yamal.

Statistic	Average per 90 (past year)
Passes attempted	71.73 (96th percentile)
Pass completion %	86.7% (90th percentile)
Progressive passes	5.14 (84th percentile)

Indeed, Yamal described the Frenchman as the “best right-back in the world”, but the £226k-a-week defender has predominantly featured at centre-back throughout his career to date, showcasing his versatility.

With Kyle Walker moving to Burnley, and Akanji’s future up in the air, the 26-year-old could be the ideal addition to Guardiola’s defence, given his ability to play at both right-back and centre-back.

However, it could be very difficult to lure Kounde away from Barcelona, considering he is currently in negotiations over extending his stay at the Camp Nou.