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Leeds United and the 49ers now want to sign a “technical” attacking player who will cost them nothing this summer, and he’s apparently open to joining both Leeds and rival suitors Wolves.

Leeds putting plans in place for busy summer

The Whites’ automatic promotion hopes suffered another blow over the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Luton Town. Leeds now have six games to go to secure a top-two finish ahead of Burnley or Sheffield United. But despite the uncertainty, Leeds are still putting plans in place for the summer, with the hope being they are a Premier League team.

Related Leeds want "brilliant" £60k-p/w star who has same agent as Rodon and Bogle

Leeds are eyeing statement signings should they claim promotion.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Apr 6, 2025

At the end of last week, it was reported that the Whites have made an approach over a deal to sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham. The Czech Republic international has been identified as a target by Daniel Farke, who sees the midfielder as someone who can offer goals and experience to his team. But obviously this deal can only go through if Leeds are back in the top flight.

Signing a new goalkeeper has also become a priority for the club, and according to The Sun, Leeds are lining up a move to sign Nick Pope as Illan Meslier’s replacement.

Newcastle are chasing a deal for James Trafford, and this could mean Pope is allowed to leave St James’ Park this summer, despite his wealth of Premier League experience.

Leeds want to beat Wolves to the signing of "technical" star

It is not just a new goalkeeper on the Whites’ transfer list, as according to Alan Nixon, relayed by Football League World, Leeds are now interested in signing Grady Diangana from West Brom, with the attacker ‘hoping’ the Whites sign him, while he would also welcome interest from rival suitors Wolves.

It is reported that Diangana, who joined the Baggies on a permanent basis in 2020, would like to make a move to the top flight come the end of the campaign. Both teams have shown a concrete interest in the player, while teams from the MLS are also interested in a possible deal.

However, Diangana, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is holding off interest from teams abroad, as he wants to concentrate on the remainder of the campaign with West Brom, as they can still finish in the top six. It is claimed that there are no signs of a deal being agreed between the player and the Baggies, meaning he will cost Leeds nothing this summer should they look to sign him.

Grady Diangana’s West Brom stats

Apps

198

Goals

26

Assists

21

Diangana has been a big hit in the Championship, but before joining the Baggies, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini labelled him a “technical” player with a great vision: “A technical player with a good view of the pitch and with a good solution when they receive the ball.”

How hard-hitting batter turned to another sport after injury curtailed his rugby career

Matt Roller16-Sep-2025When Ross Adair walks out to open the batting at Malahide on Wednesday he will complete a rare sporting double.The last time Adair pulled on a green Ireland shirt to face England, his opponents included the future England rugby union captain, Maro Itoje; this time, his opposite number at the top of the order will be Jos Buttler. Even if his encounter with Itoje was an Under-19s fixture, he will surely become the only man to have faced both modern English sporting greats in international competition.The prospect of playing against Buttler makes Adair grin. “I’m a 31-year-old man, and I’m trying not to be too excited about this guy – who is not much older than me – coming over to play cricket against me,” he says, sheltering from the wind on the Sport Ireland campus on the outskirts of Dublin. “To be in the presence of someone who’s done so much in the game will be pretty cool.”It is the latest landmark in a second sporting life that Adair himself admits seemed unlikely when he was recovering from the double hip surgeries that effectively ended his rugby career. “That was life’s way of telling me that I was on the wrong path,” he says. “I didn’t expect to be here, if I’m quite honest. It just sort of happened.”Adair and his younger brother, Mark, juggled both sports as teenagers, but went in different directions. “I got to a stage where there was Ulster Under-20s or the Under-19 Cricket World Cup,” he explains. “Ryan Eagleson (now Ireland’s bowling coach) was the Under-19s coach and he left me out… The cricket door closed, the rugby door was open, so away I went.”Primarily a winger, Adair struggled to break into a strong Ulster backline. “The back three when I was there was [Andrew] Trimble, [Jared] Payne and [Tommy] Bowe – effectively a Lions back three.” He made a single substitute appearance at senior level in the Pro12, scoring a try during his seven-minute cameo, before moving onto Jersey Reds in the English Championship.Ross Adair in action for Ulster’s A team during his rugby union career•Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty ImagesCricket went on the backburner. “We played one-hand, one-bounce in the changing rooms. That kept my eye in… I maybe came back and played a couple of games for Holywood, my local club – [Rory] McIlroy territory. But if I’d gone back to Jersey with a broken finger, they’ve have been like, ‘What are you doing?'”By the time a degenerative hip condition prompted two surgeries in early 2018, he had started to fall out of love with rugby. He returned to play for Ballynahinch and for Ulster’s A team, but recalls clearly when he realised it was time to quit: “The ref blew the first whistle, and I was counting 80 minutes down in my head… I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.'”Adair took a job in property development and started to play cricket again on the side – though an Ireland call-up was a long way off his radar: “It was just a bit of for me, a bit of fun.” Runs in club cricket earned him opportunities for Northern Knights in the Irish inter-provincial system – initially at No. 7 or 8 – before he blasted a century from the top of the order in 2022.His first Ireland call-up came on a tour to Zimbabwe, with senior players missing playing franchise cricket, and hitting 65 off 47 in his second cap ensured further opportunities would follow. He ran the drinks at last year’s T20 World Cup but marked his arrival at international level in September, launching nine sixes in a 57-ball hundred against South Africa.A combination of injury, bad weather and Ireland’s sparse fixture list means that he has only batted once since in T20Is, scoring 48 against West Indies in June. “I’ve had to watch the highlights of my hundred a couple of times, just to [remind myself], ‘You can still do this, you’re fine.’ Sometimes you second-guess yourself, but that’s all part of sport. It’s very normal.”By his own admission, Adair is a “raw” batter who relies more on temperament than technique. “I’m just glad I’m not one of the guys that go, ‘My head was a millimetre out of position there.’ You’d go insane… I like going with the flow. I could always strike a cricket ball, but I was just very, very raw. That helped me a lot when I came back.”He finds cricket more “mentally challenging” than rugby, particularly given the high-variance nature of his role as an attacking opener: “You could go five or six games in a row without getting any runs and you think you’re shit, but that’s not the case. There’s a score around the corner… It’s live by the sword, die by the sword. For me, it’s an amazing way to live.”Adair was inspired by England’s record-breaking hitting on Friday night, when they racked up 304 for 2 against South Africa: “That’s my kind of cricket. It always has been: see ball, hit ball.” He saw Phil Salt’s series – a first-baller, followed by an unbeaten 141 off 60 balls – as emblematic of the life of a modern T20 opener. “It’s scary… But that’s just the way it is.”When I went back to cricket, once I finished playing rugby, I could just go back and blast it. I wasn’t worried about the consequences… When it did take off a bit, I was trying to keep that mindset: don’t worry about it. If you get out, you get out. It’s fine. You could be 90 off 40, you could also be 0 off 1… That sense of freedom makes it a bit easier for me.”Related

• Ross Adair's 47-ball 65 helps Ireland level series

• Adair brothers star as Ireland level series

• Jordan Cox earns belated call-up for Ireland T20Is

• Ireland call up Calitz for England T20Is; Little, Mark Adair absent with injury

• Saqib Mahmood ruled out of T20Is as Scott Currie earns maiden call-up

He believes there are more transferable skills between cricket and rugby than might be obvious – “being in front of a crowd, blocking out the noise… and I’ve taken a lot of high balls” – and sees T20 as the “closest thing” between the two. “It’s just such a good, explosive, aggressive version of cricket… That’s maybe why I love it the best.”Adair won his first central contract last year, shelving his day job to become a professional cricketer aged 30, and has one eye on next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. “Hopefully with these games coming up, I can put my foot down for that opening role… They’re proper cricketing countries – the people there are mad for it – so it’s a very exciting time.”Facing England will be the biggest challenge of his career so far, but he will not be changing his approach. “I respect them so much because of what they do, and the cricket they play, but you have to park that sometimes… I’ll keep coming and trying to take them on, no matter who they are. I’ll park the respect once it comes to the game.”The two nations’ cricketing rivalry is not as deep as in rugby, but Adair is still “incredibly” excited ahead of Wednesday’s series opener. “I love playing England. I’ve had my experience with England before and even then, as an 18-year-old in the rugby sphere, you just want to get stuck in. It’s a bit different in cricket because it’s not as confrontational – but it still means a lot to us.”

Bangladesh become the latest victims of South Africa’s destructive batting, with Shakib Al Hasan and co powerless to stop an all-too-familiar assault

Mohammad Isam24-Oct-20232:51

Where did it all go wrong for Bangladesh?

A small group of Bangladesh fans groaned collectively in one corner of the Garware pavilion, next door to their team’s dressing room and right above their dugout at the Wankhede Stadium. Bangladesh had just lost five wickets in the first 15 overs of a 383-run chase in the World Cup. The daytime heat and South Africa’s big hitting had flattened their spirits already, and now this. They hardly said a word. Even the most animated among them slumped to his chair.Captain Shakib Al Hasan and centurion Mahmudullah both said that they lost the game by their bowling in the last ten overs. The three fast bowlers and Shakib conceded 144 runs in the third powerplay, the most Bangladesh has conceded during this period in an ODI. South Africa burst from 238 for 3 to 382 for 5. They had gone berserk against England a couple of days ago, and Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament. Against an underperforming Bangladesh bowling attack at the Wankhede Stadium, such a hammering was always on the cards.Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen were building up towards a big finish between overs 30 and 40 when they added 73 runs. The Bangladesh bowlers tried every combination of line and length, but once Shakib went for 22, his worst over in World Cups, the floodgates had truly opened.Shakib didn’t bowl another over after conceding two sixes in the 44th over. Mustafizur Rahman also went for two sixes, while Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud got smacked for four sixes each, taking the total to 12 sixes in the last ten overs.Mahmudullah, who made his third World Cup century much later in the game, said that around the second drinks break, the senior players were talking about chasing between 320 and 330.”I was talking to Shakib and Mushy around the (second) drinks break. On a good wicket, we were trying to lessen the damage when they were 238 in 40 overs. I think 320 to 330 was chaseable, but it was a tough ask to chase 380-plus. The bowlers tried hard but when Klaasen and Quinny are in rhythm it is hard to stop them,” he said.Mahmudullah said that the Bangladesh team hasn’t created enough opportunities to get into winning positions in the World Cup, a factor that is hurting them a lot in this campaign.”I think we are not getting that momentum. Whether batting or bowling, you have to create an opportunity to win the game. We haven’t got there. The bowlers made the job easy for us against Afghanistan. We haven’t created those opportunities in the other games. We are discussing, doing meetings, but we haven’t been able to execute it.”On this sort of wicket, you need to create the opportunity to be in a position to win a game. We couldn’t do that today. We have a bit of depth but it depends on the partnership progressing in the middle,” he said.South Africa’s batters left Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim with much to consider•AFP/Getty ImagesShakib said he had not seen Bangladesh go for so many runs in the last ten overs of an ODI. “I thought we bowled well in the first 25 overs when we got three wickets. They were going at five runs an over, but they kicked on, especially the way Quinton (de Kock) played. He batted really well. We didn’t have any answer to how (Heinrich) Klaasen finished.”We conceded 144 runs in the last 10 overs, probably the most we conceded in the last 10, 15 years. On a ground like this, it can happen like that. We should have bowled better. We lost the game in the last ten overs,” he said.Klaasen and de Kock hardly allowed for the bowlers to settle on a combination of line and length during the third powerplay. The odd yorker kept them quiet but those that didn’t land were duly struck for sixes. Mahmud’s short balls were mostly accurate, as only one of them went for a six.The death overs’ hitting by South Africa is perhaps a blip for Bangladesh. Maybe it won’t happen again in this way for the rest of the tournament. The quicker Bangladesh can move on from this performance, especially the bowlers, the more helpful it will be to their mentality. They should also be mindful of other teams going for the same pace in the last powerplay, so taking their chances early would allow them more confidence at the death.Shoriful, Mahmud and Mustafizur will be smarter bowlers in their next outings if they can pick the positives out of this performance. There’s a lot riding on Bangladesh’s fast bowlers in the remaining matches, and for their future to remain permanent rather than fleeting.

Slippy conditions may encourage seam-dominant attack versus West Indies

Matt Roller21-Oct-2021″I actually think we’ve played really well there, we’ve probably had the wrong side of the toss. The dew, from about the eighth over [of the chase] was extremely challenging. I can’t fault anybody’s efforts.”Eoin Morgan’s reflections after a defeat in the 2020 edition of the IPL went against a fundamental sporting idea: if you play better than the opposition, you tend to win. But in floodlit games in the UAE, particularly in October and November, there is another factor to consider: dew.Generally setting in either side of the innings break in a game starting at 6pm local time, it has the effect of making the ball harder to grip for the defending team’s bowlers and fielders. That bias towards the chasing team has been apparent in the IPL: out of the 25 night games played after its mid-season resumption in the UAE, chasing teams won 17.The challenge of coping with the dew is heightened for teams who rarely have to worry about dew when playing at home, so it comes as no surprise to learn that England have been focusing on how to cope with it in their build-up to the tournament ahead of their first game – under lights – against West Indies on Saturday.Their first warm-up match against India highlighted the issue. Batting first, England had posted 188 against India at the ICC Academy in Dubai, but their attack as a collective struggled for control in the run chase. Chris Jordan bowled the 19th over with 20 runs still required, but a series of attempted yorkers ended up as full tosses after the ball slipped out of his hand; his six balls cost an eye-watering 23.”The amount of dew and sweat is something we’ve had to manage very quickly,” David Willey said on Thursday. “We’ve got to think about how we’re going to keep our hands dry, keep our arms dry, dry the ball, and also be able to bowl with a wet ball.”England’s players have employed some unusual methods in training: “dunking balls in buckets and catching, fielding and bowling with those wet balls,” Willey explained. “We’ll probably get some more towels on the way to change them every over for the lads that are heavy sweaters, and sweatbands and things. It’s never going to be perfect but it’s certainly worth putting things in place to make it manageable.”Related

• England's selection headache: To go batting-heavy or bowling-heavy?

• All-round David Willey, bowlers combine to leave London Spirit winless

• Can West Indies overcome recent form to defend their title?

• The Morgan era has been great for England, but is it coming to an end?

Temperatures have been in the mid-30s degrees celsius in the UAE in recent weeks – they will cool down slightly as the tournament wears on, which could mean dew forms earlier and evens conditions up – but the stifling humidity has meant that ‘feels like’ temperatures are above 40. “You start sweating and you just can’t stop,” Willey said. “Just saturated from head to toe.”England’s fixture list for the tournament, which sees them play four group games out of five under lights, exacerbates the importance of managing the dew – and may also justify their decision to pick a single specialist spinner in their squad in Adil Rashid, with Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone generally used as part-timers by Morgan over the last 18 months.While England’s spin stocks are not exactly deep, there was some level of surprise to see Liam Dawson named only as a reserve and Matt Parkinson miss out on the squad entirely while spinners were enjoying success in the IPL, but England may well feel that their seamers will be more effective, particularly if dew is in play in both innings during the knockout stages.”There’s no denying that for spinners, if they’re trying to grip the ball, it’s going to be a challenge if it’s soaking wet,” Willey said, while Rashid added on Wednesday: “You’ve got to find a way, you can’t hide behind it, whether you’re a seamer or a spinner.”Willey himself is unlikely to be bowling at the death for England – though he has been working on a new slower ball – but is instead relishing the opportunity to face West Indies on Saturday. He is not a guaranteed starter but has been successful against them in the past – he took 3 for 20 in the 2016 final, and 4 for 7 in the sides’ most recent T20I – and the make-up of their batting line-up should play in his favour: West Indies may field as many as four left-handers in their top five, and Willey has a better economy rate (7.25 vs 8.09) and strike rate (15.9 vs 22.1) against left-handers than right-handers in all T20s since the last World Cup.”The ball swinging away from the left-handers in all formats can be dangerous, and in the white-ball game, when they’re looking to be aggressive, hopefully that goes in my favour,” he said. “I’ve been told I’ve got a decent record [against left-handers] and that might swing in my favour for getting the nod in that first game.”And having been left out of the 50-over World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament two years ago, Willey suggested that he has learned a lot from the experience. “It’s definitely made me a better person. To be part of it for four years and miss out was obviously disappointing but the personal growth from me thereon… has been massive. I’m playing every game as if it’s my last and really savouring the moment of pulling on that England shirt.”

It's fair to say the New York Yankees are in the middle of a slump. They're 6-17 in their last 23 games dating back to the middle of June. Despite their slump, the Bronx Bombers still sit at 55-38, firmly in the postseason picture and just 3.0 games back from the Baltimore Orioles atop the AL East.

While some Yankees fans are starting to lose faith, there's one bettor who desperately needs New York to prove it is still the cream of the crop in the American League.

According to Ben Fawkes, a bettor placed a $150k wager on the Yankees to win the AL pennant back on June 5. Despite being in a major slump since then, oddsmakers still have their odds set at +250.

Let's take a look at the latest odds at BetMGM Sportsbook.

AL Pennant Odds

• Yankees +250
• Orioles +300
• Guardians +600
• Astros +750
• Twins +800
• Mariners +850
• Royals +2000
• Red Sox +2200
• Rangers +4000
• Rays +6600
• Blue Jays +12500
• Tigers +17500
• Angels +50000
• White Sox +50000
• Athletics +50000

To the relief of the bettor who laid six figures on the Yankees, they're still the +250 favorites. If you translate those odds to implied probability, they have a 28.57% chance of winning the ALCS and representing the American League in the World Series.

Despite the lack of odds movement in their odds, the Yankees bettor should have at least a bit of concern about the direction of this club. The Yankees rank 20th in the Majors in OPS over the last 30 days. Things are even worse when you look at their pitching. They have an ERA of 5.47 over the same time frame, with only the Rockies sporting a worse number at 6.16.

With that being said, there's plenty of time for the Yankees to figure things out and fight themselves out of this slump. For the sake of the bettor who wagered $150,000 on them, I hope they do.

Aurelio De Laurentiis has reignited the rivalry with former manager Luciano Spalletti, now at Juventus. The Napoli president claimed the recent Serie A title under Antonio Conte was 'the real Scudetto' compared to the 'obvious' victory secured by his predecessor, insisting the cinematic drama of last season's 'blockbuster' battle made it superior to the dominance of the 2023 campaign.

• De Laurentiis stirs the pot

  Napoli president De Laurentiis is never one to shy away from controversy, and his latest comments at the have firmly placed the spotlight on the simmering tension between his club and Juventus. With former Napoli hero Spalletti now in the dugout for the Bianconeri, De Laurentiis took the opportunity to draw a sharp comparison between the two managers' achievements in Naples.

  While Spalletti is revered in the city for ending the 33-year wait for a league title in 2023 – their first since 1990, De Laurentiis appeared to downplay the emotional weight of that campaign compared to the club's more recent success under Conte. Napoli have now won two Scudetti in the last three seasons, but for the film mogul president, they are not created equal.

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• AFP
  

  'The first one arrived a bit for granted'

  Reflecting on the difference between the two triumphs, De Laurentiis suggested that Spalletti's dominance in the 2022-23 season—where Napoli wrapped up the league with weeks to spare—lacked the cinematic drama of Conte's recent victory. Last season saw Napoli engaged in a brutal, season-long dogfight with Inter, which was only decided in the dying embers of the campaign.

  "The first one arrived a bit for granted, given the path taken from the start," De Laurentiis told the audience, referring to Spalletti's title. "The second, however, is the real Scudetto because we sweated for it until the end.

  "The first one was a bit predictable, given the progress we had made since the beginning," he said. "The second, on the other hand, is the real Scudetto because we fought for it until the very end. It was like a thriller, beautiful and painful. The suspense set the stage for us to enjoy it even more after the decisive victory against Cagliari. The result was a blockbuster film. And we will make another one, about Napoli's 100th anniversary in 2026."

  Spalletti departed the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona immediately after securing that historic 2023 title, initially citing a need for a sabbatical. He subsequently took charge of the Italian national team before making a controversial return to club management with Napoli's fierce northern rivals, Juventus, for the current campaign.

• The Conte connection

  While his words for Spalletti were tinged with shade, his praise for Antonio Conte was effusive. The current Napoli boss, who restored the club to the summit of Italian football after the difficult post-Spalletti transition, shares a close personal bond with the president. De Laurentiis revealed that their relationship stretches back years, long before Conte took the reins at the Maradona.

  "We always talk, we are two friends," De Laurentiis explained. "I met Antonio in the Maldives many years ago, we swam together and talked a lot. I still didn't chew football perfectly back then and so I listened to him with interest and passion."

  What struck De Laurentiis most was Conte's relentless mentality—a trait that was crucial in edging out Inter in last season's title race.

  "I liked hearing a man who had already won so much and was not demotivated by success," he added. "He never lost his hunger and this impressed me immediately."

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• AFP
  

  A tale of two titles

  The comparison highlights the differing natures of Napoli's modern success. Spalletti's side was celebrated for its aesthetic beauty, blowing teams away with a brand of free-flowing football that captivated Europe and saw them finish 16 points clear of second-placed Lazio. The title was mathematically secured with five games to spare, turning the final month of the season into a city-wide party.

  In contrast, Conte's Napoli – grittier, more pragmatic, and built in the image of their manager – had to fight for every point. The reference to the "decisive victory against Cagliari" points to the climax of a nerve-wracking run-in where Napoli held their nerve against a relentless Inter chasing pack. For a showman like De Laurentiis, the "thriller" narrative of a last-gasp victory clearly holds more value than the serene dominance of 2023.

  The comments add extra spice to the next headline showdown between Napoli and Juventus in late-January. With Spalletti coaching the men in black and white of Turin and Conte looking to defend his hard-fought crown, the battle lines have been drawn. De Laurentiis has set the stage for a sequel to his "blockbuster," but Spalletti will be determined to prove that his own managerial script still has a few twists remaining.

The ODI World Cup is just two years away, but for England, a significantly more imminent challenge dominates

Andrew Miller25-Oct-2025Big picture: Context or continuity?The great gathering continues apace. First it was Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell and Brydon Carse – with Zak Crawley lurking on the fringes to soak up the vibes and sort the tee-off times. Then, by degrees, other key combatants have flown in, with New Zealand performing the role of an Orwellian airstrip, anchored ominously off the East Coast of Australia.Gus Atkinson has been in New Zealand for a week; Mark Wood and Josh Tongue arrived on Thursday, also in non-playing capacities. Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Jamie Smith are all in line for their first hits of the winter in this week’s ODIs, and Jofra Archer – at some stage – his first bowl. For yes, in theory, a bilateral series between England and New Zealand is about to get underway. In practice, the Ashes phoney-war-by-proxy is about to be ramped up another notch or three.The early-season conditions didn’t allow many conclusions to be drawn from 61.4 overs of T20I action, but there was purpose to the three matches just gone – coming as they do just months before the next T20 World Cup. When it comes to ODI cricket, however, it’s harder to pretend that it’s a massive priority for either team right now.Kane Williamson’s return provides the local intrigue and, as many of New Zealand’s players have been saying in recent days, the chance to play a Big Three opponent offers a degree of context in its own right. But let’s face it, if we thought Bethell’s 39 runs from 25 balls in the T20Is offered Ashes pointers, it’s nothing compared to the frenzied hot takes that Root and co. could find themselves generating this week.Of course, the spring rains may continue to dampen everyone’s enthusiasm. But England’s main focus across the past fortnight has very much been on mental preparation. There are longer-term issues that need to be addressed with the next ODI World Cup now two years away, and for the seam bowlers in particular, there’s a real opportunity to lay down a few markers. But overall, the squad’s relaxed vibe has befitted a laid-back location, and a sense that this week is a consequences-free chance to get some game-time and continue to build towards significantly more intense challenges.This was, after all, one of the rationales for McCullum taking on the white-ball coaching role back at start of the year. The unification of philosophies across squads means there are no competing agendas pulling the players one way or the other – just a collective sense of purpose at the start of a seminal winter, and a recognition that some big pictures are significantly bigger than others.Form guideNew Zealand WWWLW (last five ODIs, most recent first)
England WLLWWIn the spotlight: Ben Duckett and Kane WilliamsonIt’s not so long ago that Ben Duckett was being touted as the most complete all-formats batter in the world. But then, the very fact of his ubiquity became too much of a burden. After an exhausting Test series against India, a grim run of form in the Hundred contributed to his absence from the T20Is against South Africa in which Jos Buttler and Phil Salt laid an insurmountable claim to the openers’ roles, and by the end of the ODI leg he was visibly shot to bits. Now he’s back after some much-needed R&R – newly married and hopefully rested up. Mount Maunganui and Perth are worlds apart, of course. But England will need him to rediscover that dynamism across formats as the Ashes draw nigh.Kane Williamson will turn out for New Zealand for the first time since the Champions Trophy final in March•ICC via Getty ImagesKane Williamson is not the most demonstrative of blokes at the best of times. But he knows a career inflection point when he sees one. It’s been nearly eight months since his last match for New Zealand – their loss to India in the Champions Trophy final – and, at the age of 35, he’s conscious of the march of time, as he returns to a set-up with a new coach in Rob Walter, and with the next ODI World Cup still a full two years away. With a young family to consider, and lucrative offers such as this year’s London Spirit/Middlesex tie-in very much on the table for the autumn of his career, these three games may go some way to determining his continued hunger after 15 years as a Black Cap.Team newsKyle Jamieson has been ruled out of the series after suffering stiffness in his side, but New Zealand welcome back a core of senior players who have not featured in the ODI set-up since the Champions Trophy – the captain Santner, Tom Latham and Williamson among them.New Zealand (possible): 1 Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Latham (wk), 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Zak Foulkes, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Matt Henry.Smith, Duckett and Root return to action for the first time this winter, with one eye very much on the first Test at Perth in less than a month’s time. Sam Curran will get a chance to cement his allrounder role, while Luke Wood could get a run in the side with England’s 50-overs seam attack still very much a work in progress. Jofra Archer is fit but unavailable for the first match, as England look to manage his workload ahead of the Ashes. Will Jacks is still absent with a finger injury.England (possible): 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Sam Curran, 8 Jamie Overton/Sonny Baker, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Luke Wood.Pitch and conditionsThe weather warnings that wrecked the Auckland T20I have abated, although the strong winds remain a factor. The ground record is New Zealand’s hefty 371 for 7 against Sri Lanka in 2019, so if the conditions permit, runs will surely flow.Stats and trivia New Zealand have played 11 ODIs at Bay Oval since 2014, winning six – including each of their last three – and losing five. However, England won these teams’ only previous meeting at the venue, by six wickets in 2018, despite a certain Mitchell Santner producing the day’s stand-out innings, 63 not out from 52 balls. Adil Rashid, who also played in that fixture, needs three more wickets to overtake Darren Gough (234) as England’s second-most prolific ODI bowler behind James Anderson (269).

It might go against everything you’d expect to see from a right wing-back, although the decision to deploy Amad in that role is currently working wonders for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, with the Ivorian striking up a devastating partnership with Bryan Mbeumo in recent weeks.

The presence of two left-footers both seeking to cut inside had caused problems in the early knockings of the campaign, not least when they collided in the area in the opening day defeat to Arsenal, with doubts creeping in over whether the duo were simply too similar to thrive together in tandem.

Since the win over Sunderland, however, in which the pair showed shades of Yorke and Cole with their interchanges, this right-wing pairing has simply taken off, with the two men combining at Anfield and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For all the question marks over Amad’s defensive prowess, having been caught out for Morgan Gibbs-White’s header at the City Ground, the 23-year-old is certainly making up for those shortcomings by dominating proceedings at the top end of the pitch.

That impact has no doubt been highlighted even further by the issues on the other flank, with Amorim still yet to find a permanent solution at left wing-back.

Man Utd's solutions at left wing-back

Heading into the January window, this might be an area that Jason Wilcox and co look to strengthen again, amid links to the likes of Inter’s Federico Dimarco, despite having seemingly solved that problem almost 12 months ago.

Indeed, the addition of Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu looked to have handed Amorim a perfect fit for this system, with the versatile Dane having previously featured as a winger, as well as at full-back, making him ideal for a rampaging left-sided role.

Perhaps as to be expected for a player who only recently turned 21, however, Dorgu is undoubtedly still a work in progress, a fact heightened most notably at the Etihad, where he had the most touches in the opposition box for United (12), yet had little to show for it.

An improved display did follow last time out against Spurs, having won nine duels in total, although that rawness to his game was seen in the final third, as he lost possession 24 times, as per Sofascore.

That is perhaps why Amorim had turned to Diogo Dalot as an unorthodox option prior to that, albeit with the Portuguese full-back not exactly shining in that role either, having been caught out for Nicolo Savona’s goal against Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old, as is to be expected for a right-footer, looks distinctly uncomfortable on that flank, forced to cut in repeatedly, rather than burst into potential space ahead of him down the left.

There is something of a wildcard option in the form of summer arrival, Diego Leon, although the 18-year-old – who did score a stunning solo goal for the U21s against Spurs – is still finding his feet in the youth ranks, having yet to make a competitive senior appearance.

The Paraguayan, thankfully, isn’t the only teenage sensation that Amorim can turn to in the near future.

How Man Utd can replace Dorgu

It will take more than one transfer window to get this squad where both Amorim and INEOS want it to be, although the Old Trafford side can’t simply rely on incomings and investment – the academy set-up also needs to be utilised.

Perhaps in midfield, the Portuguese coach could look to a player like 17-year-old sensation, Jim Thwaites, while at wing-back, a future star is brewing in the form of 18-year-old, Harry Amass.

The ex-Watford starlet – who made his senior debut last season against Leicester City – ended 2024/25 with seven senior appearances to his name under Amorim, having most notably come off the bench in the 5-4 thriller against Lyon in the Europa League.

Tipped to be “Luke Shaw’s successor” by journalist Alex Turk – with Shaw himself singling out his compatriot as one to watch – Amass has long been tipped for a starring role in the first-team, a fact only heightened by his displays out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

The teenager joined the struggling side on loan over the summer, having since gone on to make a real impression for the Owls, notably netting a delightful strike from range in the recent defeat to Southampton.

That effort showcased everything Amorim would surely want from a wing-back, as Amass took it upon himself to drive into the centre of the pitch, before providing a real quality end product.

Lauded as “one of the most exciting teenage full-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the diminutive talent has started all 11 games since moving to Hillsborough, with ten of those seeing him play the full 90 minutes.

Such is the success of that loan spell so far, in which he has featured in a left midfield or left wing-back berth, there is already talk of further moves between the clubs, with United academy stars such as Victor Musa and Gabriele Biancheri in line to potentially follow him to Sheffield.

Whether Amass does actually see out the season in his temporary home remains to be seen, however, with recent reports revealing that there is the presence of a break clause in January, ensuring he could return to United in the New Year.

Should that occur, it would likely be with another loan in mind, although with neither Dorgu nor Dalot nailing down that left-sided role this season, Amorim should certainly consider bringing Amass back into the fold.

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Manchester United are now very keen on signing Ajax midfielder Jorthy Mokio, amid a new update on his future at the Eredivisie club.

With Man United looking to sign a new midfielder, the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba have been identified as potential targets, but it could be difficult to compete for their signatures, having already established themselves as Premier League stars.

As such, it may be a savvy move to bring in a lesser-known midfielder, with talks to sign AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit recently advancing, as speculation over Kobbie Mainoo’s future at Old Trafford continues to build.

Ruben Amorim has suggested Mainoo’s lack of game time is due to United simply not playing in enough matches to make full use of the entire squad, saying: “Imagine for me to have Mainoo with that (many) minutes that he’s playing, he needs more games for me to make a rotation because, with one game (a week), it’s really hard.”

However, with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes making themselves undroppable in recent weeks, a Mainoo departure could be on the cards, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a potential replacement.

Man Utd now very keen on signing Jorthy Mokio

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, in a report for Sky Sports, Man United have now emerged as one of the clubs most interested in signing Ajax midfielder Mokio, who has decided he wants to leave the Eredivisie club.

Ajax are looking to tie the midfielder down to a new contract, but he could seemingly have his head turned, with a number of clubs from across Europe now in the race for his signature.

The 17-year-old is being followed very closely by United, having been identified as the perfect target, but there could be competition for his signature, with Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt also emerging as potential suitors.

The Belgian has been likened to N’Golo Kante, given that he flourishes from a defensive point of view, placing in the 99th percentile for blocks per 90 over the past year, and the 84th percentile for clearances, when compared to other midfielders.

Not only that, but the youngster has also established himself as a first-team regular for Ajax at a very young age, being lauded as an “amazing” player by scout Jacek Kulig.

With Mainoo’s future up in the air, it would make sense to bring in another young midfielder, but Man United may also need to sign another central midfielder alongside Mokio, given that Casemiro’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Marcelo foi a grande contratação do Fluminense para 2023 e pode escrever seu nome na história do Tricolor das Laranjeiras com o título da Libertadores. Porém, o multicampeão pelo Real Madrid já se declarou ao Botafogo e iludiu os torcedores do botafoguenses que sonhavam com a chegada do lateral-esquerdo.

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CORAÇÃO DIVIDIDO

Nascido no Rio de Janeiro, Marcelo sempre teve uma relação de afeto com o Botafogo, time pelo qual seu avô torcia. Ele morava em um prédio que ficava na concentração da Força Jovem e tinha o hábito de ir ao Maracanã assistir aos jogos do Glorioso.

Tenho até hoje um carinho especial. Hoje meu time é Real Madrid, mas eu torço para o Botafogo. Torço pelo Fluminense também, e tenho carinho pelos dois times – disse Marcelo, ao GE, em 2017.

ASCENSÃO NO TRICOLOR

Apesar da relação com o  Botafogo, Marcelo iniciou sua carreira no Fluminense. Ele chegou ao clube em 2001, atuando pelo Sub-15, e ficou na base até 2005, no Sub-19 – ano em que subiu ao profissional após Josué Teixeira, auxiliar de Abel Braga, perceber o potencial do jovem lateral.

DOMÍNIO NA EUROPA

Em 2006, Marcelo recebeu o prêmio de Craque do Brasileirão e foi vendido ao Real Madrid, quando tinha 18 anos, por 6 milhões de euros (cerca de R$ 17 milhões na cotação da época)

Marcelo se tornou símbolo de um Real Madrid vitorioso na Espanha e imponente na Europa, conquistando 25 títulos com a equipe espanhola. Ele encerrou seu ciclo na Espanha em 2022, transferindo-se para o Olympiacos, da Grécia.

O BOM FILHO À CASA TORNA

O lateral reafirmava constantemente o desejo em retornar ao Brasil, e seu nome começou a ser muito especulado tanto no Botafogo quanto no Fluminense. Os botafoguenses se apoiavam no poder da SAF e as declarações antigas do jogador, mas o apelo sentimental e o sonho de conquistar uma Libertadores pelo Fluminense pesaram, e Marcelo retornou ao Tricolor das Laranjeiras no dia de fevereiro de 2023, com contrato até o fim de 2024.]

+ Veja tabela e simule os resultados do Brasileirão

EM BUSCA DA HISTÓRIA NA LIBERTADORES

Com status de estrela e líder do elenco, Marcelo quer tentar entrar na seleta lista dos jogadores que conquistaram Champions e Libertadores. A estreia do camisa 12 foi justamente na competição continental, contra o The Strongest, mas ele saiu lesionado no primeiro tempo aos 29 minutos.

O drama de Marcelo na Libertadores aumentou na partida de ida das oitavas de final, contra o Argentinos Juniors, quando ele tentou driblar Luciano Sánchez, mas acabou atingindo a perna do adversário e o argentino sofreu uma luxação completa do joelho esquerdo.