Having already agreed a loan deal to sign Cedric Kipre from Stade de Reims, Ipswich Town are now reportedly closing in on their second signing of the summer in the form of another Ligue 1 star.
Ipswich set to sign Cedric Kipre
It’s been a slow summer transfer window at Portman Road so far as Kieran McKenna looks to build a side capable of earning an instant return to the Premier League without Liam Delap. The talented forward was always destined to depart once relegation was confirmed and he did just that when Chelsea came calling to win a frantic race for his signature.
Replacing the forward remains the toughest task for Ipswich this summer, but not one that sits top of their list of priorities. Instead, according to recent reports, The Tractor Boys are set to commence their summer business by signing Kipre on loan from Reims to hand the central defender his first move back to English football since leaving West Bromwich Albion last year.
Kipre will need little introduction to Championship fans given his extensive experience in England’s second tier, and that experience should prove to be key for McKenna’s side next season.
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Whether signing Championship experience is part of the overall plan for Ipswich this summer remains to be seen. Recent links have emerged with the likes of Kwame Poku have been mentioned in recent weeks before his move to QPR, but those at Portman Road could first welcome a midfield reinforcement to match the potential arrival of Kipre this summer.
Ipswich in advanced talks to signing Matusiwa
As reported by Le Parisien, Ipswich are now closing in on a deal and are in advanced talks to sign Azor Matusiwa from Stade Rennais this summer. The defensive midfielder initially cost the French side around €16m (£14m) back in January 2024, but is seemingly set to move on just 18 months later in favour of McKenna’s side.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Azor Matusiwa
Jens Cajuste
Minutes
2,078
1,959
Progressive Passes
134
59
Tackles Won
39
22
Ball Recoveries
134
107
As far as replacements for Jens Cajuste go, it’s fair to say that Matusiwa is an impressive option. The midfielder outperformed the former Ipswich loanee and Napoli midfielder in several key departments last season and will thrive in the Championship if he completes a summer switch.
In a deal worth £10m, Matusiwa could even turn into an excellent bargain at Portman Road. During his time at Reims, the midfielder found himself at the centre of praise more than once, including from Ben Mattinson in 2023. The analyst described the Dutchman’s anticipation as “great” and went on to praise him as “strong” as well as “agile”.
Azor Matusiwa celebrates for Reims.
So, although Ipswich have taken time to get going, both Kipre and Matusiwa would represent solid signings to kickstart their transfer window at long last.
Surrey 340 for 5 (Lawrence 91*, Smith 86, Sibley 76, Foakes 52) vs WorcestershireIt was normal service resumed for leaders and champions Surrey on day one of the Vitality County Championship match with Worcestershire at ‘Visit Worcestershire New Road.’Surrey had suffered an innings-and-278-runs defeat against Hampshire in their previous Championship fixture at the Utilita Bowl ahead of the Blast in contrast to their previous four-day form.But fifties from Dom Sibley and Jamie Smith laid the foundations before Dan Lawrence and Ben Foakes increased the tempo during the final session during a stand of 131 in 35 overs.Foakes fell just before the close – to a fourth catch for Adam Hose – but Lawrence remained undefeated on 91 from 126 balls.It was Surrey’s first visit to New Road since they lifted the 2018 title on the ground and they are well placed to post a formidable total on the second day.Worcestershire captain, Brett D’Oliveira, was side-lined with a shoulder problem and Jake Libby skippered the side.Pace trio Joe Leach, Ben Gibbon and Yadvinder Singh, who all played in last month’s encounter at the Kia Oval, were ruled out through injury.Ethan Brookes, Tom Taylor and on loan Somerset spinner, Shoaib Bashir, all made their Championship debut for the home side.Taylor’s younger brother, James Taylor, made his first Championship appearance for Surrey since April 2022.Surrey were put in on a rock hard looking pitch and quickly lost skipper Rory Burns.Tom Taylor took the new ball and struck with the third ball of the morning as Burns turned a delivery straight to Bashir at mid wicket.Ollie Pope looked in good form and cover drove Taylor for four and used his feet to turn on loan Essex seamer Ben Allison to the midwicket boundary. But he then gave Allison the charge and nicked through to Adam Hose at first slip.Allison, signed because of injuries to Joe Leach, Ben Gibbon and Yadvinder Singh, bowled an excellent opening spell of 7-3-10-1.But Sibley was in excellent touch, straight driving and cover-driving Adam Finch for boundaries, and coming down the wicket to hit Bashir down the ground for four after he came into the attack.Smith also took advantage of over-pitched deliveries from Finch to collective successive boundaries and the 100 came up in just 27.2 overs.Allison bowled another probing post-lunch spell and Sibley edged just short of second slip.Waite again also asked questions of both batters but Sibley and Smith were determined and reached their respective fifties off 108 and 103 balls respectively. The stand was worth 149 in 40 overs when Bashir broke it as Sibley picked out Hose at short midwicket.Smith departed in a similar manner with again Hose the catcher after Finch came into the attack.Lawrence and Foakes upped the tempo during the final session after playing themselves in up until tea.Foakes pulled Bashir for a maximum over wide long-on before having a let off on 31 when dropped at deep midwicket off Finch.Lawrence cut Brookes for four to reach a 66-ball fifty and Foakes went to the same landmark from 104 deliveries.But Finch broke the stand after the second new ball had been taken when Foakes (52) fell to a low catch diving to his right at first slip by Hose.
Until the official announcements are uploaded, Florian Wirtz beaming into the lens as he confirms his ecstasy at having signed for the Premier League champions, Liverpool fans would be forgiven for holding onto their jubilation.
According to German reports, Bayer Leverkusen have on Monday morning rejected Liverpool’s second official bid for Wirtz, worth around €130m (£110m).
The negotiations were never going to be easy, even if this saga is moving forward with comparative swiftness. Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world”, according to former Werkself striker Patrick Helmes, but all parties anticipate a resolution in the coming days or weeks.
Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz
With Jeremie Frimpong already completing his move from Leverkusen to Anfield and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in advanced talks to sign for Liverpool, things are looking good on Merseyside.
However, there’s even more for sporting director Richard Hughes to do ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Liverpool's attacking transfer plans
Darwin Nunez got lost in the celebrations as Liverpool won the Premier League, and these will be the memories he takes with him as he leaves this summer.
It’s not set in stone, but the Uruguayan is expected to leave this summer, with interest rising from Spain and the Saudi Pro League.
Liverpool's DarwinNunezcelebrates after winning the Premier League
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike has been touted as the man to replace him, but Chelsea also have a vested interest in the forward and are considered by BILD reporter Christian Falk to be leading Liverpool in the race.
Believe it or not, even more change may be afoot. Luis Diaz enjoyed a productive campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists across all competitions, but he has reportedly emerged as a priority for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr. Barcelona also maintain a long-standing interest.
Liverpool have utilised the dynamic forward’s qualities across wide and central berths this season, and if he was indeed to be sold, the club would surely need to bring in an out-and-out striker as a matter of urgency.
Liverpool enter race for new striker
According to Sky Sports, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is on Liverpool’s shortlist of targets at centre-forward with the Anfield outfit ‘looking’ at him alongside widely reported names like Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig.
Interest in Alexander Isak also remains, but he’s off the cards after Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
Osimhen has just completed a successful season-long loan with Galatasaray after efforts from Chelsea and Saudi suitors fell through last summer, and there’s no way back for the Nigerian in Naples after an acrimonious divorce.
Napoli would be allegedly looking for a £60m fee, so a deal could certainly be agreed in the coming months, especially if FSG succeed in offloading Nunez.
Why Liverpool should sign Victor Osimhen
Osimhen is one of the finest finishers in the game, hailed for his “world-class status” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley. He’s tenacious, layered and physical, surely the perfect fit for Slot’s Liverpool system.
24/25 – Galatasaray
41
37
8
23/24 – Napoli
32
17
4
22/23 – Napoli
39
31
5
21/22 – Napoli
32
18
6
20/21 – Napoli
30
10
3
Though he was forced away from Europe’s top-five leagues this season, Osimhen’s time in the Turkish Super Lig has proved a clinical success, instrumental in Galatasaray winning the league and the Ziraat Turkish Cup.
Aged 26, this would be the time for him to try his hand at Premier League football, and FSG chiefs must seriously consider prioritising him over Sesko and Ekitike, who are both talented but raw and undeveloped.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen
As per FBref, Osimhen ranked among the top 3% of centre-forwards across Europe in 2024/25 for goals scored, the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area, and the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, emphasising his elite-level threat.
Sesko, who has a £70m release clause in his contract, and the £84m-rated Ekitike, conversely, still have something to be desired in regard to their prolific output. Across 48 matches this year, Frankfurt’s man bagged 22 goals from 48 matches, while Sesko has posted 27 goals from 64 appearances in the German Bundesliga since signing for Leipzig two years ago.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
Coined by analyst Ben Mattinson a “transitional monster” and a “beast in the air”, Osimhen is the real deal, all right, and would provide Liverpool with a ridiculous focal point from which Salah, who turns 33 this month, can ease his burden and the inbound Wirtz can forge a deadly partnership.
That’s not to say Ekitike and Sesko couldn’t make their mark too, but Liverpool are set to undergo some rather drastic changes in the offensive department, and a striker proven to be one of the best in the world would be a sure-fire way to ensure Slot’s finely-woven system remains in place.
Osimhen, furthermore, is more than just a goalscorer. His nifty footwork, swift-limbed and purposeful with his passing and link-up play, suggests there’s a real player in there who could, by turns, make the net bulge himself and feed Salah and co.
Given that, at £60m, Osimhen would come at a cheaper price than Liverpool’s other major striker targets, it feels like a bit of a no-brainer, one that could see the Reds retain their Premier League title and maybe get their mitts on some silverware across other fronts.
One thing’s for certain: all three transfer targets would prove to be upgrades on Nunez, who has sadly fallen by the wayside in Slot’s set-up, and Liverpool cannot afford to have a misfiring number nine fronting the project once again.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring their first goal
Regarded as “the best striker on the market” by data journalist Statman Dave, Liverpool need to make this one happen; Osimhen might just prove to be the final piece of the puzzle for an Anfield side looking to consolidate their position at the very top of the global game.
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Whatever happens in the Europa League over the next few weeks, those at Manchester United will be fully aware that they are once again approaching a crucial transfer window in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
In truth, amid what has been the club’s worst-ever Premier League season, the INEOS regime can’t afford another wrong turn this summer, with new boss Ruben Amorim needing to be handed the appropriate tools in order to revive this sleeping giant.
Cunha, Delap, Amorim
There had been minimal signs of progress upon the Portuguese’s arrival – namely impressive displays away at both the Etihad and Anfield – although results have spiralled in recent months, with the top-flight now merely an unwanted distraction for those at Old Trafford.
The club’s current standing in the bottom half of the table has showcased that major surgery is needed ahead of next term, with the club reportedly already beginning that operation by ramping up their pursuit of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha.
That move for the Brazilian sensation certainly won’t be the last move of the summer, if recent reports are anything to go by.
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
While last summer still appeared to be partly led by then-boss Erik ten Hag, amid the signings of Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui, the common theme of the INEOS era has been youth.
Erik ten Hag
Indeed, the Red Devils managed to edge Real Madrid in the race for Lille teenager, Leny Yoro, while the club have since brought in Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu during the January window.
The Old Trafford side have also dipped into the South American market to land Paraguayan starlet, Diego Leon, ahead of 2025/26, with that a move that could be replicated amid their interest in River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Argentine outlet Soy del Millio, offers have reportedly been lodged for the 17-year-old superstar, with United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid named as the clubs who have made an approach.
The teenager – who has a €45m (£38m) release clause in his existing deal – would likely represent a signing for the future, however, not least with River insisting that he is set to remain in his homeland until the end of the current league season, which finishes in December.
FrancoMastantuonoduring the match
Whether that is merely a bargaining tool or not remains to be seen, although if INEOS can strike a deal over the coming months, it would certainly be a welcome one.
Why Man Utd could be set to land Di Maria 2.0
From Juan Seba Veron to Carlos Tevez, the Red Devils have no doubt welcomed some high-profile Argentine talents to Manchester in the 21st Century, with the now-veteran Angel Di Maria perhaps one of the more polarising of the lot.
Signed from Real Madrid on a £59.7m deal back in the summer of 2014, the silky left-footer simply never appeared to settle at the Theatre of Dreams, having sealed a hasty exit to PSG just a year later.
At odds with manager Louis van Gaal, the then-number seven could only show flashes of his quality in the red jersey, including his memorable dink against Leicester City in the early stages of the 2014/15 campaign.
As he has showcased elsewhere, Di Maria – who did chalk up 15 goals and assists in just 32 games for United – is an undoubted superstar, as evidenced by his 121 goal involvements in just 190 games in Madrid, alongside 212 goal involvements in just 295 games in Paris.
In many ways, young Mastantuono looks to be the second coming of his compatriot, not least due to his ability to operate on the flanks or in a central role, while waving his wand of a left foot to devastating effect.
Previously described as a “world-class talent” and “one of the most talented players of his age category in South America” by scout Jacek Kulig, the teen playmaker has four goals and two assists to his name in 13 games in 2025 to date, despite his relative youth.
In total, the in-demand talent boasts 12 goal involvements in just 55 games at senior level, with his form across the last year or so seeing him recognised as statistically similar to Di Maria, among those in their position outside of Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref.
Non-penalty goals
0.16
0.07
Assists
0.21
0.20
Shot-creating actions
5.09
6.00
Progressive passes
8.46
6.26
Progressive carries
3.89
3.26
Successful take-ons
1,56
3.65
Touches in opposition box
5.81
4.82
Progressive passes received
10.59
10.95
Tackles
0.88
2.28
Interceptions
0.42
0.20
That likeness is notably evident with regard to their creative streak, with Mastantuono ranking in the top 12% of his positional peers for progressive passes per 90, while the current Benfica star ranks in the top 2% in that regard.
Equally, the pair are also alike with regard to their record for shot-creating actions per 90, with the younger man ranking in the top 4%, while Di Maria ranks in the top 12% for that same metric.
Franco Mastantuono for River Plate
Such likeness should bode well for the career that Mastantuono can have in the game, and while there may be concerns that he might go the same way as his compatriot at Old Trafford, he surely represents an exciting talent for Amorim to be able to nurture.
Of course, United are in need of ready-made figures who can immediately improve the first-team ranks, although looking to the future is also vital amid INEOS’ long-term project.
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After missing the last three games through injury, one Aston Villa star could now make his return to action against Paris Saint-Germain as Unai Emery’s side go in pursuit of upsetting the odds in the Champions League.
Aston Villa show depth against Nottingham Forest
Whilst their balancing act has at times stood in the way of their top four ambitions, victory over Nottingham Forest has kept Aston Villa in the race to qualify for the Champions League in consecutive campaigns. And the credit for that as well as their FA Cup and European exploits on the side should go towards both Emery and sporting director Monchi.
After selling Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, those in the Midlands welcomed a number of key reinforcements and have gone on to benefit ever since. The likes of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have thrived whilst Donyell Malen is now beginning to show his best form – scoring his second goal in as many games this weekend.
Emery was left pleased with victory over Forest too, albeit whilst admitting that he wasn’t happy with how Aston Villa allowed their opponents a glimmer of hope in the second half.
The Spaniard told reporters in his post-match press conference: “We started dominating. They were playing tactically, a medium-low block and we started dominating because they were not pressing high, not getting out. We were creating chances and we scored goals.
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“The second half, I am not happy. They were changing their tactics and taking more duels aggressively, pressing higher and we were not dominating like we have to. This victory is very important. Very happy with the victory. Very demanding of myself to improve things within… I am happy because we have three points more.”
Emery provides Bailey injury update
Aside from the three points, Aston Villa also had some positive injury news to enjoy following their battle against Forest. As confirmed by Emery, Leon Bailey could now make his return from injury against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, making his first appearance in three games.
The winger couldn’t be returning at a better time with such an important game on the horizon. The Villans will need every one of their stars to step up against the French champions and arguably the best team left in the Champions League, meaning that Bailey must be at his best on his potential return.
Aston Villa'sLeonBaileyin action with Celtic's Greg Taylor
Emery revealed the news, telling reporters: “It is very important to manage the players we have, we are more less with the players available. Leon Bailey hopefully can be available for Paris.”
The former Bayer Leverkusen man is due some good form too. Before his injury, Bailey had only scored twice and assisted a further four goals in all competitions in a major drop-off compared to last season.
Now on his way back from injury, the £120,000-a-week winger must find a way to return to his clinical best and offer Aston Villa an instant boost in the process.
The Ashes can wait for now as white-ball campaign prepares to get underway in Christchurch
Cameron Ponsonby16-Oct-2025Christchurch. The city of scooters.Contrary to popular belief, not everything runs smoothly in New Zealand. The Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre, for instance. A $500 million major sports complex was scheduled for completion in 2015, but when you walk past the site that’s a kilometre down the road from Hagley Oval, the builders are still there. A flat white occasionally takes four minutes to arrive rather than three – and cricket is being played in October.This month’s T20I against Australia, on October 1, was the earliest New Zealand had ever played a home international. Two weeks later, Wellington and Otago are currently playing a pre-season friendly, even though the start of the domestic season is still over a week away. The only team playing competitive cricket in New Zealand currently, is New Zealand. The scooters are good though.But if the timing of this series is considered far too early, and the construction of the local swimming pool considered far too late, then the vibes and morale in both camps is just right.Unusually, in such a crammed cricketing calendar, both sides managed to carve out quality time together in the lead-up to their showdown, which will consist of three T20Is followed by three ODIs. England were down in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, with bungee jumps, skydiving and jet boats available to all.”I was just playing golf,” said Harry Brook.Meanwhile, New Zealand were in Hanmer Springs. An idyllic location consisting of thermal pools, hiking and quiet pubs where the team could get to know one another, and new head coach Rob Walter, that bit better. There are also, at the thermal pools, waterslides.”They got a hammering,” said former No.1-ranked T20I bowler, Jacob Duffy.Jordan Cox will be given a chance at No.7 after his maiden fifty against Ireland•PA Photos/Getty ImagesConditions in Christchurch, where the first two T20Is will be played, are mixed. The mornings and afternoons consist of a strong sun and a jumper wrapped around your waist, while the evenings require multiple layers all at once. The wind that whips round Hagley Oval isn’t for the faint-hearted, and the night-time T20Is will see hands shoved in pockets and jumpers required for players and spectators alike.But, in an oddity of the modern bilateral series, both teams are at close to full strength. Injuries, rather than rest and rotation, are the core reason for any absence. England have left Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Jofra Archer at home until the ODIs, but otherwise captain Brook has his full deck to play with.”We’ve got a great opportunity here against a very strong side to go out there and try and capitalise on the momentum we’ve already made,” Brook said. “The last game we played together as a full group, we got 300.”Because of England’s recent ODI woes, it is easy to forget that in T20Is they have been strong, losing only one of their last seven bilateral series. Similarly, New Zealand’s recent T20I record is excellent. The recent defeat to Australia aside, they have lost just one of their previous 11 bilateral series. While a lack of context remains the perennial problem for these series, quality is one thing that the coming week won’t be lacking.As has become customary with this England side, they named their team a full two-and-a-half days before the start, with Sam Curran and Jordan Cox the notable inclusions at No. 6 and 7 respectively.Related
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Curran, previously unfavoured by the McCullum regime, will play a full role as an allrounder, as he has also been included as the fifth bowler. While Cox, off the back of winning the PCA Player of the Year award, will play an unfamiliar finisher role to stake his claim for a place at the World Cup. Jos Buttler, who went down with a stomach bug on the journey over, is now fully fit and will open the batting and keep wicket.England are at pains to stress that the focus of this series … is this series. A bit of T20 World Cup preparation, yes, but the Ashes will come later. And while they may mean it, it’s hard to imagine they really believe it. How could they?Gus Atkinson, for instance – who is not part of the white-ball squads – arrived today to begin his individual preparation to take on Australia, while Mark Wood and Josh Tongue are due to land next week to do the same.They will work with bowling consultant Tim Southee, the former Kiwi legend who has been part of England’s coaching staff over the summer. He had been expected to leave his role following this series and not be part of the Ashes coaching squad. However, this looks subject to change with Southee currently earmarked to stay with the group in Perth for the warm-up against the Lions and for the first Test before leaving to play in the ILT20.”It’s something I’d love to be a part of,” Southee told talkSPORT. “But obviously there’s a few things to go through first.”New Zealand are boosted by the return of Rachin Ravindra and captain Mitchell Santner, but are still missing several players through injury including Finn Allen, Adam Milne, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips and Lockie Ferguson. Kane Williamson and Ben Sears are also absent.”I think we missed him last series,” Duffy said of his captain Santner, whose return has seen Ish Sodhi miss out on selection. “Not only his four overs, but his leadership too. There’s still a few guys missing out, but to have a couple big more horses in the tanks is not going to hurt us.”Even with their number of injuries, New Zealand’s pace attack remains daunting, with Duffy backed by the likes of Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Zak Foulkes. The exciting Bevon Jacobs, who was picked up by Mumbai Indians just under a year ago, before he’d even made his international debut, is also expected to feature.All in all, whether it’s October or not, the contest is well poised and an exciting series of high-quality cricket awaits. And that can never be too early in the year.England XI: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (capt), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Tom Banton, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Jordan Cox, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Liam Dawson, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Luke Wood.
The 50-over World Cup winner leaves opponents in awe of his strokeplay during blistering innings
Hemant Brar23-Nov-20231:53
Inglis on his century – ‘Nice to get the monkey off the back’
Josh Inglis has left everyone in awe.Mukesh Kumar is scratching his head. Axar Patel and Rinku Singh have wry smiles on their faces. Suryakumar Yadav, India’s stand-in captain, cannot help applauding.In the tenth over during the first T20I in Visakhapatnam, Mukesh marginally missed his length with the yorker. Inglis took it on the full, used his wrists to open the face of the bat beyond 90°, and hit it into the turf. The ball flew off the surface, beating the backward point to his left and leaving the deep third with no chance of stopping it.No one in world cricket plays such shots better, or more regularly, than Suryakumar. In fact, he has even hit sixes off those deliveries over that region. Still, he was seen shadow-practising what Inglis had just done. There couldn’t have been a bigger compliment.Inglis is no stranger to inventive strokeplay. On his T20I debut against Sri Lanka last year, facing just his fourth ball, he reverse-swept Wanindu Hasaranga through point for four. On Thursday, however, he opened his account with a textbook cover-drive off the first ball he faced, from Ravi Bishnoi.Related
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Australia had lost Matthew Short from the previous ball. But on a small ground and a belter of a pitch, they knew they had to attack all the way through. Inglis was up to the task. The only time he looked a bit handcuffed was when Axar cramped him with the arm-ball. But after three dots, Axar pitched one short and wide, and Inglis duly dispatched it to the boundary.From there on, it was a complete domination. In the eighth over of the innings, Inglis hit Prasidh Krishna for three fours and a six in one over as the fast bowler struggled with his line and length. Till then, that six – clearing the deep-backward point fielder via a back-foot punch – was the shot of the match. But the night was still young. A couple of overs later, Inglis bettered it, at least in the eyes of his opponents, with the aforementioned four off Mukesh.He reserved the severest punishment for Bishnoi, off whom he scored 49 from just 15 balls. Six of his eight sixes came against the legspinner, three in one over. It was not that Inglis was targeting a particular area. He scored all around the wicket – 54 runs came on the off-side and 56 on the leg – which meant India couldn’t restrict him by packing one side and bowling there.Having brought up his fifty off 29 balls, Inglis needed only 18 more to get to his hundred. It was the joint-fastest T20I hundred by an Australia batter, equalling Aaron Finch’s 47-ball effort against England in 2013. En route to the milestone, he reverse-scooped a full delivery from Arshdeep Singh over short third for four, once again impressing Suryakumar.Despite Steven Smith scoring only 52 off 41, Inglis’ 110 off 50 balls powered Australia to 208 for 3. Eventually, it didn’t prove to be enough as India chased it down with one ball to spare. But Inglis has seen far bigger ups and downs in life.Josh Inglis shows his inventive side•BCCIThere was a time when he wasn’t able to convert his starts in first-class cricket. After 34 matches, he averaged 28.15 with nine fifties and no hundred. He overcame that by working with a sports psychologist and spending more time with his batting coach. In the next 18 games, he has scored at 44.27 and notched up four hundreds.During that time, he and Alex Carey were contesting for a place in the 2021-22 Ashes squad after Tim Paine stepped away from the game for a mental-health break. The selectors went with Carey. The following year, Inglis was picked as Matthew Wade’s back-up for the 2022 T20 World Cup, but a freak golf injury ruled him out of the tournament.But things have been looking up in 2023. During the recently concluded ODI World Cup, he replaced Carey as the first-choice 50-over keeper, and scored 58 off 59 against Sri Lanka in his second game. In his next six innings, he could manage only 96 runs at an average of 16.00 but had the team management’s backing all the way through to the title.Inglis has also replaced Wade in the T20I side, or at least that is what it now looks like. When Australia played a three-match T20I series in South Africa earlier this year, Inglis played all the games with Wade warming the bench.Even though Wade is the captain, and the first-choice keeper, for this five-match T20I series, he isn’t sure if he will be the first-choice keeper for next year’s T20 World Cup. And Inglis’ innings hasn’t made things any easier. But Wade was full of praise for the “terrific knock”.”I was just speaking to him and asking if he wants to go back down the order,” Wade said after the game. “But I don’t think we are seeing that for a while . To come out at No. 3 and play shots from ball one… he was the class better on the night.”
From being full of self doubt, the 28-year old has transitioned to being a gun batter for the Scorchers
Tristan Lavalette26-Jan-2022During the dregs of last year’s off-season, as he pondered deficiencies in his batting amid a stalled T20 career, Kurtis Patterson watched classic footage of Australia legend Matthew Hayden for inspiration.Both tall and left-handed, the similarities were obvious but Patterson was struck by Hayden’s set up before he repeatedly thrashed beleaguered bowlers.”He used to keep his hands quite low, pick up his bat as the bowler released and wouldn’t really have a trigger movement with his feet,” Patterson said to ESPNcricinfo about Hayden, who hit 30 tons in 103 Tests.He also closely observed Glenn Maxwell. “He has such a nice bat swing and bat flow, especially to the spinners,” Patterson said of the Melbourne Stars skipper. “They were a couple of guys that did things well that I wanted to bring into my game.”As he watched highlights of those master blasters, Patterson – who hadn’t cracked a half-century in 30 BBL matches before this season – could probably not have envisioned that he would soon replicate them. During his breakout BBL season, the 28-year-old has top-scored for all-conquering Perth Scorchers with 390 runs at 143.91 strike rate ahead of Friday’s final at Marvel Stadium.
“The overarching feeling was that I didn’t know whether I was good enough.”Patterson on his frame of mind 12 months ago
Such has been his destructiveness that Patterson has now been labelled as the BBL’s “most improved player” by former Australia quick Damien Fleming amongst others. “Those that have seen me bat over the years, know that when I get my eye in I hit the ball hard,” said Patterson, who has smashed 18 sixes in 12 innings this season.He had emphasised a focus on power hitting during the off-season in 2020 but then couldn’t squeeze into Scorchers’ powerful line-up and sat on the bench for all bar one match of BBL 10. It meant Patterson had played just four matches in two seasons for Scorchers after crossing over from Sydney Thunder.Kurtis Patterson has drawn inspiration from Glenn Maxwell•Getty Images”I felt ready for an opportunity,” said Patterson, who admitted to being a “frustrated T20 cricketer” 12 months ago. “The overarching feeling was that I didn’t know whether I was good enough.”Ahead of a pivotal BBL season, the last on his three-year contract with Scorchers, Patterson needed to ignite his T20 career and he sought to improve his batting overall having been somewhat forgotten since playing two Tests for Australia in early 2019.Backed by the trusted expertise of his NSW coaches Chandika Hathurusingha and Anthony Clark – and left inspired by the destructive deeds of vintage Hayden and Maxwell – he decided to take the bold step of tinkering with his technique knowing his somewhat limited range had been exposed in the accelerated T20 format.”What I lacked was accessing and hitting boundaries in different areas of the ground,” Patterson said. “Previously I hadn’t been able to access the leg side as I would have liked. And I needed bowlers to give me width to hit through point and cover.”I wanted to try something new.”Starting pre-season training a month earlier than usual, Patterson went about changing his batting set up in a bid for his “hands to relax”.”My hands were getting stuck around my belly button and sternum,” he said. “If your hands are stuck in that position there’s not much room to move and not much power to generate with any sort of bat swing.”It was about getting into a position where I could get my hands behind my back hip to be able to flow through the ball. Keeping my hands a bit lower seemed to help.”Kurtis Patterson has been in prolific form this season for the Scorchers•Getty ImagesSo too did discarding trigger movements and reverting back to Hayden’s playbook. “I realised I was telling myself a lie so I stopped going back and across with my feet because I was uncomfortable,” he said.”I’ve always known I’m best when I keep really still at the bowler’s point of release. That has allowed me to stay balanced and pick up length better than in previous years.”Patterson’s newfound approach started slowly against underarm bowling but after a month he had a litmus test against NSW’s bowlers returning from their off-season.”You may feel awkward and late on the ball,” advised Hathurusingha, who Patterson described as a “tactical genius for batting”. “That’s completely normal. There is no need to panic and change things.”But there was no reason to fret with everything “instantly clicking” for a relieved Patterson. “I knew from that point I did the right thing and it was about sticking with it,” he said.Patterson entered this BBL season confident having scored a century as captain for NSW against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, but he was no certainty to be part of Scorchers’ season opener against Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium.Even though Scorchers no longer had the services of big-hitters Liam Livingstone and Jason Roy, Patterson’s hopes rested on whether Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis would play for Australia A against England Lions.”Cam Bancroft finished last season really well and (Scorchers coach Adam) Voges said he was going to start with him,” Patterson said. But with Marsh and Inglis unavailable, Patterson made the most of his opportunity at No. 3 with a brutal 55 off 30 balls against Heat that seemed to catch everyone by surprise except himself.”I treated it as a free swing. See ball, hit ball attitude,” Patterson said of an innings he rated his “best” in a season yielding four half-centuries. “It certainly helped prove me right (about the technical changes). It was a nice feeling.”Being a key cog in Scorchers’ title push has helped Patterson re-enter the limelight for a talented batter who still holds a Test average of 144 after an unbeaten ton against Sri Lanka in Canberra.”I have desire to get back there,” Patterson said about Test cricket. “In previous years I’ve gone down rabbit holes of trying to prove people wrong. But it adds pressure and I’m now focusing on what I can control. It’s why I love captaining NSW because it forces me to focus on getting the best out of the team instead of thinking of representative needs.”Set to be a coveted BBL free agent, Patterson won’t be chasing IPL glory with the upcoming birth of his son ensuring he has a hectic schedule ahead. But, right now, he’s hoping to cap off a momentous season with Scorchers, who have been on the road for seven weeks due to Western Australia’s unmovable hard border.”Would be a remarkable achievement to win the title,” he said. “No one has whinged, everyone has been focused. It’s been nice to play a part and showcase my skills.”
Tottenham Hotspur is a club that has so often been home to numerous elite-level attackers, many of whom have captured the hearts of supporters in the process.
Harry Kane will remain as the Lilywhites’ best-ever goalscorer, with his remarkable figures during his decade-long stint in North London backing up such claims.
The Englishman scored 280 times in his 435 appearances for the club, subsequently breaking the late Jimmy Greaves’ long-standing goalscoring record.
He also formed a deadly partnership with Heung-min Son during his time in the first team, with the duo linking up together on 47 occasions – the most of any pairing in Premier League history.
However, current boss Thomas Frank has been unable to rely upon either of the stars after taking the reins during the off-season, after both were sold in the last handful of years.
Numerous other teams currently boast players of similar characteristics, which has often seen them produce the goods on a consistent basis against them in the Premier League.
The pain Bukayo Saka has inflicted on Spurs in the PL
The North London derby is one of the first dates all Spurs fans look for in the calendar every year, with such a fixture having huge importance in terms of bragging rights.
Winger Bukayo Saka has been a player the Lilywhites supporters have certainly envied over the last few years, with the Englishman often producing the goods against the Lilywhites.
He’s helped Mikel Arteta’s side claim numerous victories in the clashes between the two sides in recent years, subsequently inflicting pain on the Lilywhites faithful as a result.
After his debut for the Gunners five years ago, he’s racked up 10 appearances against Spurs, even finding the back of the net in 50% of the matches he’s featured in.
From solo efforts, as seen in the clash back in April 2024, to assists for Gabriel in the meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – Saka has constantly proved to be a nuisance.
Given the levels he’s achieved in the Premier League over the last couple of years, the Lilywhites faithful will no doubt have wished that they had a player of his calibre in their ranks.
The Spurs star who could be their answer to Saka
In the present day, Spurs boss Frank does have numerous attacking options at his disposal, but many have failed to meet the expectations in 2025/26 to date.
Brennan Johnson has fallen down the pecking order after the Dane’s arrival, subsequently only starting five of the club’s 11 league outings in the Premier League this season.
The Welshman has only registered two goals, but has failed to match the levels he produced last season, which saw him find the net on 18 occasions across all competitions.
His failures have led to youngsters such as Wilson Odobert being handed the chance to impress in North London, but the manager will no doubt want further options off the left-hand flank.
Son’s departure has seen an elite-level talent vacate the squad, leaving a huge hole for one player to potentially fill in the long-term future under Frank.
Mikey Moore could well prove to be the beneficiary in the years ahead, with the teenager deserving of a consistent run in the first-team to allow him to reach his full potential.
The 18-year-old made 19 appearances across all competitions last season, taking advantage of the injury crisis and even registering his first senior goal in the Europa League.
However, he’s been sent on loan to Rangers this campaign in an attempt to gain valuable first-team minutes elsewhere to help aid his development and build on last season’s success.
During his temporary stint in Scotland, the teenager has shown glimpses of his quality, subsequently netting his first goal for Danny Rohl’s side against Dundee last weekend.
Underlying figures such as 1.7 dribbles completed per 90 and 7.7 ball recoveries per 90 further indicate his all-round talents – something which is extremely rare given his tender age.
Mikey Moore – stats at Rangers (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
9
Goals & assists
2
Dribbles completed
1.7
Ball recoveries
7.7
Shots taken
1.7
Pass accuracy
76%
Chances created
1.2
Aerial duels won
80%
Stats via FotMob
Moore’s performances at Rangers have already seen him receive huge praise from analysts around Spurs, with one of which labelling the winger as “the best prospect in the country”.
However, it’s crucial that the club manage expectations of the youngster, especially if he is to reach the levels that many people around North London know he is capable of achieving.
Despite that, fans have a reason to be excited, with Moore’s rise through the academy and immediate impact as a teenager extremely similar to Saka’s emergence at Arsenal.
Like his compatriot, he has the tools to make a name for himself in the North London derby, subsequently handing the fans memories to cherish in such an iconic fixture.
Should he continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason why the youngster can’t play a huge role in the Spurs first team, potentially helping Frank claim added silverware in the near future.
Spurs have "one of Europe’s best finishers" & he could end Richarlison's stay
Tottenham Hotspur can offload Richarlison if Thomas Frank shows faith in one other squad member.
MatériaMais NotíciasVer Resumo da matéria por IAPara a próxima temporada, o Atlético já iniciou um amplo processo de reformulação no elenco, que deve incluir a chegada de novos reforços e a saída de nomes conhecidos. O Lance! ouviu a Massa Atleticana para entender a percepção da torcida sobre quem merece permanecer no clube e quem deveria buscar novos rumos no futebol.Resumo supervisionado pelo jornalista!
Para a próxima temporada, o Atlético já iniciou um amplo processo de reformulação no elenco, que deve incluir a chegada de novos reforços e a saída de nomes conhecidos. O Lance! ouviu a Massa Atleticana para entender a percepção da torcida sobre quem merece permanecer no clube e quem deveria buscar novos rumos no futebol.
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Essencial para o Atlético, a massa não abre mão
A permanência no Atlético desperta percepções diversas entre a massa atleticana. De modo geral, são mais bem avaliados os jogadores que tiveram boas temporadas individuais, mesmo em meio a um desempenho coletivo abaixo do esperado. Por outro lado, atletas já consolidados no futebol, mas que por diferentes motivos tiveram um ano ruim ou aquém do esperado, acabaram gerando debates e opiniões divergentes sobre seu futuro no Galo.
Entre os jogadores mais citados e defendidos de forma enfática quanto à permanência, destaca-se Éverson. A totalidade dos entrevistados manifestou apoio à continuidade do goleiro no clube, apontando-o como um dos melhores do país em sua posição e afirmando que ele merece, inclusive, uma oportunidade na Seleção Brasileira.
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Outro nome citado na maioria das respostas foi Lyanco. O zagueiro, que atualmente se recupera de uma grave lesão no tendão de Aquiles, esteve recentemente envolvido em uma polêmica ao discutir com um torcedor durante a final da Copa Sul-Americana.
Ainda assim, o consenso entre a grande maioria dos entrevistados foi de que o jogador errou e precisa reconhecer o equívoco, mas que isso não diminui sua qualidade técnica. “Errou, tem que reconhecer o erro. Mas precisa jogar futebol e trabalhar, pois é um dos melhores zagueiros do país”, disse Jonas, torcedor do Galo.
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Outro jogador que é unânime entre a torcida é o volante Alan Franco. Polivalente, o atleta já desempenhou funções em diversas posições do meio-campo, na ala direita e até como zagueiro. Seu desempenho e versatilidade foram amplamente reconhecidos pela massa atleticana, que não abre mão de sua permanência no time. Assim como Sampaoli, a torcida vê Alan Franco como um pilar fundamental da equipe.
O principal jogador que gerou divergências entre a torcida foi Hulk. A maior parte dos atleticanos se mostrou favorável à permanência do atacante no Galo, destacando que, mesmo com a idade avançada e uma temporada abaixo do esperado, ele segue sendo um jogador muito importante e capaz de decidir partidas. “É o nosso ídolo. Apesar da idade, continua entregando boas atuações e segue como a principal referência do elenco”, afirmou André.
Por outro lado, uma parcela menor da torcida acredita que o ciclo de Hulk no Atlético pode estar chegando ao fim. Esses torcedores reconhecem toda a idolatria construída pelo jogador no clube, mas defendem que ciclos se encerram naturalmente no futebol. Entre os argumentos citados está a ideia de “sair em alta”, preservando a imagem e a história vitoriosa do atacante no Galo, além da necessidade de renovação do elenco e de novas lideranças para a sequência do projeto esportivo.
Confira a lista dos jogadores mais citados para permanecer no Galo:
1- Éverson 2-Lyanco 3-Alan Franco 4- Hulk 5- Alexsander
Fim do ciclo no Galo
Na visão dos torcedores, o elenco atleticano precisa passar por uma reformulação urgente. Diante disso, diversos nomes foram apontados como possíveis saídas do clube, em sua maioria por consenso da massa. As críticas se concentram principalmente em questões técnicas e no fato de esses jogadores não terem entregado o desempenho esperado com a camisa do Galo.
O nome mais citado pelos torcedores como opção para deixar o Galo foi Gabriel Menino. O jogador, que chegou ao clube no fim do ano passado como parte da negociação envolvendo Paulinho e o Palmeiras, não conseguiu agradar a massa atleticana e foi bastante criticado pelas atuações ao longo da temporada: “Sempre que entra não demonstra vontade; parece não querer ficar aqui”, comentou Pedro.
Outro jogador bastante criticado e cuja permanência no Galo não é mais vista com bons olhos pela torcida, é Biel. Emprestado pelo Sporting, o atleta teve poucas oportunidades ao longo da temporada e não conseguiu apresentar um bom desempenho. Além disso, acabou ficando marcado negativamente pelo gol perdido na final da Copa Sul-Americana, lance que poderia ter garantido o título ao Atlético.
Além deles, outros nomes também foram lembrados pela torcida como possíveis saídas do Galo: Junior Santos, Rony e Fausto Vera. As críticas a esses jogadores foram similares, nenhum deles conseguiu demonstrar o rendimento esperado com a camisa alvinegra. A principal justificativa para a insatisfação foi a falta de consistência nas atuações, o que comprometeu sua permanência no elenco, já que não entregaram o desempenho necessário para justificar a continuidade no time.
Os mais criticados e citados pela massa atleticana:
1- Gabriel Menino 2- Biel 3- Rony 4- Junior Santos 5-Fausto Vera