Tag Futebol

Former England captain has long association with Lord’s through Middlesex and the Hundred

Matt Roller25-Jun-2025

Eoin Morgan will represent MCC’s interest on the board of London Spirit•Alex Davidson/ECB/Getty Images

Eoin Morgan has been appointed to the board of directors at London Spirit, where he will represent the interests of Lord’s owners Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) while sitting alongside their incoming co-owners, the ‘Tech Titans’.The ‘Tech Titans’ – officially Cricket Investor Holdings Limited – are a consortium of Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs led by Nikesh Arora, the chief executive of cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks. They bid £144 million for a 49% stake in London Spirit earlier this year, with the deal expected to be ratified soon after lengthy contractual negotiations.Related

Morgan says England head coach aspirations 'far-fetched'

Silicon Valley consortium values London Spirit at £295 million in Hundred coup

Hundred sale process encounters delay over future TV rights

ECB consider 'de-coupling' Women's Hundred in bid for standalone sell-outs

MCC will retain its 51% share in the franchise and their position as majority partners will be reflected on the Spirit board. They will have four out of seven board seats, with their new joint-venture partners appointing the other three directors.Morgan captained London Spirit’s men in the first two seasons of the Hundred, and has a long association with Lord’s dating back to his early years at Middlesex. He has recently been ratified as MCC’s incoming chair of cricket, replacing the former England batter Claire Taylor, and his new role with London Spirit is the result of his experience and knowledge of franchise cricket.MCC has also appointed Rob Lawson, their chief executive and secretary, and incoming committee member Julian Metherell to the London Spirit board, but is yet to choose its final director. Metherell emerged as a key figure during the investment process, and was personally thanked by chair Mark Nicholas for his role in negotiations after the Titans’ investment.The eight Hundred deals are approaching ratification after extensive negotiations around key documents, including the participation agreement with the ECB. Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, told ESPNcricinfo earlier this month that the process had taken “longer than we thought” but that it had reached “a really good state of play”.London Spirit’s women’s team, the defending Hundred champions, have also announced an overhaul of their leadership team, with Charlie Dean taking over as captain from Heather Knight, who has been ruled out of the tournament with injury, and Chris Liddle replacing Ashley Noffke as head coach. Knight, the former England captain, will stay with the squad in a mentorship role, with Kira Chathli, who was part of the title-winning Oval Invincibles side in 2022, taking her place in the squad.Noffke is taking up a new role on the Pakistan coaching staff. “Ashley was a highly respected coach, who will be much missed at Lord’s,” Fraser Stewart, London Spirit’s general manager, said. “I would like to place on record our thanks for the hard work, dedication and excellence he brought to the role, and his key part in securing our first title.”

Aston Villa are on the rise under Unai Emery, with NSWE backing the manager in the transfer market. However, the club have also cashed in on a number of Villa Park stars down the years – but who is the club’s record departure?

Here is a detailed look at Villa’s most expensive sales in their history, as per Transfermarkt, with an in-depth view of the top 10.

1

Jack Grealish

£100m

Man City

2021

2

Jhon Duran

£64m

Al-Nassr

2025

3

Moussa Diaby

£50m

Al-Ittihad

2024

4

Douglas Luiz

£42.35m

Juventus

2024

5

Christian Benteke

£32.5m

Liverpool

2015

6

James Milner

£26m

Man City

2010

=7

Carney Chukwuemeka

£20m

Chelsea

2022

=7

Stewart Downing

£20m

Liverpool

2011

=7

Jaden Philogene

£20m

Ipswich Town

2025

10

Cameron Archer

£18m

Sheffield Utd

2023

11

Ashley Young

£17m

Man Utd

2011

=12

Cameron Archer

£15m

Southampton

2024

=12

Danny Ings

£15m

West Ham

2023

=12

Matt Targett

£15m

Newcastle

2022

15

Dwight Yorke

£12.6m

Man Utd

1998

16

Gareth Barry

£12m

Man City

2009

17

Diego Carlos

£10m

Fenerbahce

2025

18

Tim Iroegbunam

£9m

Everton

2024

19

Jordan Amavi

£8.9m

Marseille

2017

=20

Fabian Delph

£8m

Man City

2015

=20

Ugo Ehiogu

£8m

Middlesbrough

2000

Here's a detailed look at Aston Villa's top 10 sales… 10 Cameron Archer £18m to Sheffield Utd, 2023

The first time Aston Villa sold Cameron Archer was in 2023 to newly promoted Sheffield United. Archer had a respectable campaign at Bramall Lane which resulted in Villa activating a buy-back clause in 2024, only to sell him again months later.

The Blades shelled out £18m to sign the forward, with their subsequent relegation perhaps playing a part once Villa sensed they could get some more money for him, with play-off winners Southampton the latest beneficiary.

9 Jaden Philogene £20m to Ipswich, 2025

Jaden Philogene swapped Villa Park for Portman Road in January 2025, looking to help keep Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

The Villa academy graduate had loan spells at Stoke City, Cardiff City, and Hull City in the Championship before the club cashed in.

8 Carney Chukwuemeka £20m to Chelsea, 2022

Young midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka starred for a brief period of time in the Aston Villa first team after coming through the academy.

Chukwuemeka’s impressive performances caught the eye of Chelsea, who added the midfielder to their growing list of young signings in 2022 for £20m. However, he has already been linked with an exit without making his mark at Stamford Bridge.

7 Stewart Downing £20m to Liverpool, 2011

Stewart Downing was Martin O’Neill’s first signing of the 2009 transfer window and his time at Aston Villa was short and sweet. After two seasons, Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish took Downing to Anfield and the left-winger would spend two years with the Reds.

The Anfield side spent a reported £20m to bring the England international to Merseyside, though the fee has officially remained undisclosed.

6 James Milner £26m to Man City, 2010

Premier League icon James Milner initially joined Aston Villa on loan in 2005 as part of Newcastle’s deal to re-sign Nolberto Solano.

Milner would go on to impress at Villa Park and signed on a permanent basis three years later in 2008, making a total of 126 appearances before signing for Man City in a £26m deal in 2010, from which point he continued to carve out a successful top-flight career.

5 Christian Benteke £32.5m to Liverpool, 2015

Powerful striker Christian Benteke first made his mark in England with Aston Villa after arriving from Genk in 2012, and the Villans would make a huge profit on the Belgian three years later.

It was again Liverpool who came calling and paid an eye-catching £32.5m fee for the forward, though his transfer to Anfield didn’t work out, and he was on the move again 12 months later.

4 Douglas Luiz £42.35m to Juventus, 2024

More recently, central midfielder Douglas Luiz was sold by Aston Villa to Juventus in 2024 after spending five successful years with the club.

A transfer was reportedly worth €50m (£42.35m), with Villa soon taking Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea to the Midlands in return. Amadou Onana has since become his successor at Villa Park.

3 Moussa Diaby £50m to Al-Ittihad, 2024

Another big-money exit in 2024 to help balance the FFP books was Moussa Diaby, who moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for around £50m.

The France international only spent one campaign in England, but his displays were enough for Villa to more or less break even on the fee they paid Bayer Leverkusen a year earlier.

2 Jhon Duran £64m to Al-Nassr, 2025

Jhon Duran was going from strength to strength at Villa Park when the surprise decision was made to sell the Colombia international to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January 2025.

The forward cost Villa just £18m, so a £64m exit represented a huge profit and the chance for Duran to go and play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

1 Jack Grealish £100m to Man City, 2021

Unsurprisingly top of the list as Aston Villa’s most expensive sale is Jack Grealish, whose £100m move to Manchester City in 2021 was a British record at the time.

The attacking midfielder dazzled in claret and blue in the Championship and the Premier League and departed Villa after making more than 200 games for his boyhood club. His deal as the most expensive between British clubs has since been eclipsed by the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea’s approach to recruitment has long revolved around stacking their squad with some of the brightest young prospects in world football.

In the past few years, they have paid significant sums to secure teenagers such as Estevão, Kendry Páez and Mamadou Sarr.

This summer alone, they have added some of the most exciting youth prospects in Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Jorrel Hato from Ajax.

The logic is simple: bring in rising stars before their price goes up and commit them to long contracts, typically seven years or more.

By doing so, Chelsea not only protect themselves against paying premiums later – as they did with Enzo Fernández’s £107m transfer in 2023 – but also keep themselves compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by spreading transfer fees across the length of those deals.

The result is the youngest squad in the Premier League, with an average age of just 23 years and five months.

Not all of these gambles work out, however. A number of players have grown frustrated at limited minutes and moved on.

This summer alone saw exits for Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku.

And in previous years, Chelsea have made high-profile misjudgements by letting go of talents like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice and Romelu Lukaku too early.

Yet there are also success stories that show the model can deliver.

Nowhere is that clearer than with Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer's stunning Chelsea stint so far

When Chelsea paid Manchester City £40m for Palmer in 2023, the deal was met with scepticism.

Could a player who had mostly been used sparingly by Pep Guardiola truly justify such a fee?

Two years on, the answer is an emphatic yes. Palmer is now the beating heart of Enzo Maresca’s side and widely regarded as the club’s most important player.

Since his arrival, Palmer’s market value has soared from €32m (£28m) to €120m (£110m), as per Transfermarkt.

He was central to Chelsea’s resurgence last season, guiding them to a fourth-place finish, a UEFA Conference League triumph and a Club World Cup title.

His influence was decisive in both finals, scoring twice against PSG in the Club World Cup and picking up man of the match awards in each.

Palmer’s output has been remarkable: 45 goals and 29 assists in his first 100 appearances for the club.

Beyond numbers, his creativity and ability to dictate games in the final third have been transformative.

It is no surprise he won the PFA Young Player of the Season award, or that he broke into the England team in 2023, scoring in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Statistically, Palmer excels across multiple areas.

Matches Played

37

Goals

15

Assists

8

Progressive Carries

120

Progressive Passes

214

Source: FBref

His 2024/25 season included 37 appearances with 23 goal involvements, averaging 6.03 progressive passes per 90 and 5.70 shot-creating actions.

He is not just scoring and assisting, but consistently advancing Chelsea’s play in possession.

For all the criticism of the club’s scattergun transfer policy, Palmer stands as proof that sometimes they get it spectacularly right.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Palmer

For every Palmer success story, there is a cautionary tale.

Jamal Musiala’s departure is one Chelsea fans continue to regret.

Having been part of the Blues’ youth system, he left for Bayern Munich in 2019 for just €200k (£175k).

Today his market value is estimated at €140m (£130m), and he is widely considered among the best attacking midfielders in world football.

At Bayern, Musiala has blossomed into a superstar.

In 207 matches, he has scored 64 goals and provided 39 assists, while also cementing his place in the German national team with 40 caps and eight goals.

Former England youth teammate Jude Bellingham once roomed with him, and Musiala’s decision to represent Germany over England has only heightened the sense of loss.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes summed it up simply: Musiala is “one of the best number 10s in the world.” The statistics underline his world-class profile.

In 2024/25, he managed 14 goal involvements in 25 Bundesliga matches, with 1.55 shots on target per 90 and an outstanding 45.6% accuracy, as per FBref.

He edges Palmer in dribbling influence too, recording 39.6 carries per 90 compared to Palmer’s 33.0.

While Palmer is the superior progressive passer (6.03 per 90 to Musiala’s 5.35), Musiala’s ability to destabilise defenders with his direct running offers a complementary, if different, threat.

The irony is stark: Chelsea now pay premiums to secure players like Palmer, while having allowed Musiala to leave for a fraction of his current worth.

Injuries have unfortunately stalled his 2025/26 campaign – a broken leg at the Club World Cup means he will miss large portions of the season – but his trajectory remains upwards.

The Palmer-Musiala contrast highlights the dual nature of Chelsea’s youth model.

They are capable of landing gems that transform the team, but just as easily let diamonds slip through their fingers.

Maresca must drop Chelsea dud who was as bad as Chalobah vs Bayern

Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich in their first Champions League game of the season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2025

Sunderland have made a solid start to life in the Premier League and could now be about to make a late swoop for a rapid forward.

Sunderland see off Brentford in dramatic fashion

Harnessing the power of their home support, Sunderland claimed their second victory of the league campaign under Regis Le Bris after Wilson Isidor’s last-minute winner over Brentford maintained their 100% record at the Stadium of Light.

Despite going behind courtesy of Igor Thiago’s header, Enzo Le Fee converted from the spot before the Black Cats’ fanbase were sent into raptures in stoppage time.

Speaking post-match, Le Bris praised his side for their resilience after taking advantage of the fine margins that presented themselves on a day of ecstacy in the North East.

He stated: “Three points, another tough game with fine margins. I think the first half was positive, we controlled this part of the game without creating many chances or scoring, I think it was the main regret of the first half.

“Second half was totally different – more chaotic, more open. I’m happy because these two sides of the performance are really important, you can be well-organised and feel that we can control this part.”

Romano: Sunderland submit new £24m bid to sign Le Bris' "priority target"

His club are fighting hard to keep him.

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 28, 2025

With focus quickly shifting to deadline day, Sunderland are lining up a late bid for FC Midtjylland winger Dario Osorio, who is also attracting interest from Ligue 1 outfit Lille.

On the same token, the Black Cats have submitted an offer for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joey Veerman and there is a good chance that he could sign on the dotted line once all is said and done.

Making late moves, Sunderland now have a striker in their sights that would add an element of pace to their forward line if they can pull off a deal.

Sunderland "keen" on RB Leipzig striker Lois Openda

According to Florian Plettenberg on X, Sunderland have made their interest known in RB Leipzig forward Lois Openda, who is also wanted by the likes of Juventus and Aston Villa before the window slams shut.

His current employers are set to demand a fee near the £35 million mark for his signature, and Philipp Hinze has added to these reports via the social media outlet, claiming Openda may be able to leave on loan with a mandatory purchase option.

Sporting’s Conrad Harder has been billed as a Leipzig replacement for the Belgium international, who has registered 41 goals and 18 assists in 93 appearances for the German top-flight outfit.

Hitting a top speed of 38.86 kilometres per hour in the Bundesliga last term, per their official website, Openda is deemed a similar player to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior by Football Transfers’ comparison algorithm, coming as a result of his ability to race in-behind.

Reinforcements in the forward areas are on the agenda for Sunderland and a move to bring the talented forward to Wearside would be a fitting end to a strong window for the Black Cats.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia Lucas Fernandes e o atacante Matías Segóvia sofreram uma lesão durante uma atividade realizada no Espaço Lonier no último domingo (18). A dupla está fora da partida do Botafogo diante do Cuiabá e será dúvida nos próximos compromissos da temporada.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo usa Data Fifa para calibrar as energias e investir na recuperação dos jogadoresBotafogo19/06/2023BotafogoBotafogo ganha arma importante neste começo de Brasileirão; confira os númerosBotafogo18/06/2023BotafogoBotafogo x Magallanes: saiba como comprar ingressos para partida da Sul-AmericanaBotafogo18/06/2023

Lucas Fernandes chegou ao clube no início do ano passado e vem sendo muito utilizado nesta temporada. O meia era um dos cotados para a assumir a vaga de Eduardo, que está suspenso e será desfalque no próximo jogo do Glorioso.

+ Veja 30 jogadores que ainda não completaram sete jogos no Brasileirão e podem trocar de clube

+ Luis Henrique celebra momento no Botafogo e comenta sobre possível saída de Luís Castro

Matías Segovia chegou recentemente ao clube e rapidamente caiu nas graças da torcida, mas vem tendo dificuldades em adquirir sequência. O atacante vinha se recuperando de uma fratura na mão e, por conta desta nova contusão, terá que prolongar seu retorno aos gramados.

Apesar dos desfalques, Luís Castro deve contar também com os retornos de Gabriel Pires e Danilo Barbosa. Cuiabá e Botafogo se enfrentam na quinta-feira (22), às 20h, na Arena Pantanal, pelo Brasileirão.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em meio à sequência de lesões do elenco, um jogador do Flamengo tem aproveitado as chances dadas por Sampaoli e emplacado jogos como titular. Trata-se de Everton Cebolinha, que reencontrou o bom futebol e tem sido essencial nos duelos individuais e nas jogadas em profundidade.

RelacionadasFlamengoFlamengo visita o Bahia, tenta dar sequência à reação e vencer a primeira fora de casa no BrasileirãoFlamengo13/05/2023FlamengoBahia x Flamengo: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pelo BrasileirãoFlamengo12/05/2023FlamengoVictor Hugo agrada Sampaoli e fala sobre adaptação em mudança de função no Flamengo: ‘Consigo fazer bem’Flamengo12/05/2023

+ Confira a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Mesmo ao promover algumas alterações contra o Goiás, o argentino optou pela manutenção do atacante. Pelo lado esquerdo, o camisa 11 incomodou a defesa esmeraldina com velocidade ao explorar os espaços e atrair a marcação.Com boa movimentação,conseguiu construir ora em profundidade, ora pelo meio com tabelas e triangulações.

Enquanto esteve em campo, durante 68 minutos, o atleta participou ativamente das jogadas ofensivas. Tanto que esteve presente nos lances dos dois gols do triunfo rubro-negro. No primeiro, deu o passe para AyrtonLucas, que foi derrubado na área. Na cobrança, Pedro foi certeiro e colocou o Flamengo na frente, mas sentiu a coxa direita e teve que ser substituído.

+ Joias da base e novas opções acirram disputa no meio-campo do Flamengo para sequência do ano

Na etapa final, Cebolinha voltou a decidir ao dar um ‘passe açucarado’ para Everton Ribeiro, de letra, marcar um golaço no Maracanã. O atacante já havia tido uma grande atuação contra o Athletico-PR, quando carregou por dentro e sofreu pênalti de Fernandinho. Diante do Maringá, construiu a jogada em velocidade e recebeu na frente para driblar o goleiro e estufar a rede.

+ Victor Hugo agrada Sampaoli e fala sobre adaptação em mudança de função no Flamengo: ‘Consigo fazer bem

Desde que chegou ao Flamengo, o atleta buscava seu espaço e tentava ser aquele jogador da época de Grêmio. Por lá, conquistou a Libertadores, Copa do Brasil e Recopa. No Benfica, foi comandado por Jorge Jesus, mas apesar de evoluir e adquirir maturidade, não se firmou no Velho Continente.

Everton também foi destaque na campanha do título da Copa América 2019, com a Seleção Brasileira. Além de erguer o troféu, foi artilheiro do torneio, ao lado de Paolo Guerrero, e eleito o melhor jogador da decisão contra o Peru. Apesar de deixar sua marca no início do processo que antecedeu a Copa de 2022, perdeu espaço com Tite e ficou de fora do Mundial do Qatar.

+ Filipe Luís, do Flamengo, se forma na licença B e já pode ser técnico de times das categorias de base

O Flamengo volta a campo neste sábado, às 16h, para medir forças com o Bahia, na Arena Fonte Nova. Cebolinha estará à disposição para dar sequência à boa fase. Além de mostrar, mais uma vez, para Sampaoli que pode lutar por uma vaga no ataque rubro-negro.

As the start of West Ham United’s pre-season fixture list beckons, fair to say supporters are not happy.

On Saturday, the Hammers will face Swiss side Grasshoppers, before traveling to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series, where they’ll take on Manchester United, Everton and then Bournemouth.

Ahead of these matches though, supporters are not in high spirits, after star player Mohammed Kudus was sold to their fiercest rivals Tottenham for a reported fee of £55m.

Nevertheless, could the acquisition of a replacement lift the mood?

West Ham targeting new signings

As noted by Jacob Steinberg and Will Unwin of the Guardian the Hammers were forced to sell Kudus to avoid breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules, so Graham Potter will need to rebuild his squad on a tight budget.

Well, West Ham did make their first signing of the summer earlier this week, with El Hadji Malick Diouf arriving from Slavia Prague, the 20-year-old, Senegalese international left-wing-back joining for £19m.

Nevertheless, this does not fill Kudus’ rather large void, hence why, as reported by Football Insider, West Ham have stepped up their interest in signing Marcus Tavernier from Bournemouth.

Simon Jones of the Daily Mail has previously claimed that Tavernier is valued at around £30m by the Cherries, with İstanbul giants Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş sighted as also being interested in securing his signature.

Transfer Focus

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

The 26-year-old has three years remaining on his contract by the South Coast, so Bournemouth are not under pressure to sell, but could he be on the move this summer?

How Marcus Tavernier would improve West Ham

Tavernier joined Bournemouth from Middlesbrough for around £10m three years ago, and has been a key figure for the Cherries ever since.

Then-manager Gary O’Neil described him as “technically gifted”, while current boss Andoni Iraola praised his “quality”, and Tavernier’s importance at Bournemouth has increased since the Spaniard’s arrival in Dorset.

Marcus Tavernier’s Bournemouth Premier League career by season
Statistics	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25
Appearances	23	30	29
Starts	19	25	20
Minutes	1,749	2,133	1,940
Goals	5	3	3
Assists	4	4	6
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

Bryant Marques of Total Football Analysis highlights Tavernier’s ability to drive into space and his excellent ‘ball-carrying capacities’, able to create shooting angles thanks to his outstanding ‘individual technique’.

Meantime, Ahmed Shooble of the Athletic outlines how he was once the ‘Premier League’s most prolific dribbler’, impressed by his ‘versatility’ and ability to conduct direct attacks.

This skill set is certainly reminiscent of Kudus, suggesting he would be an ideal replacement, so let’s assess how the duo compared last season.

Marcus Tavernier vs Mohammed Kudus 2024/25 PL comparison
Statistics	Tavernier	Kudus
Minutes	1,940	2,590
Goals	3	5
Assists	5	3
Shot on target %	29.8%	28%
Shot-creating actions per 90	4.55	3.72
Chances created	43	29
Big chances created	9	4
Attempted take-ons	65	208
Take-on success %	47.46%	48.42%
Touches per 90	60.5	52.2
Average Sofascore rating	7.05	6.82
Statistics courtesy of FBref.com, Squawka and SofaScore

As the table outlines, in the Premier League last season, it is Tavernier’s statistics that come out on top almost across the board.

Kudus has attempted more take-ons than anyone else in the division in both of the last two seasons, while only Lamine Yamal registered more across Europe’s top five leagues last time round, which is certainly impressive company to keep.

Nevertheless, what is noteworthy is the fact that Kudus only completed 1% more take-ons than Tavernier, suggesting that many of his dribbles take him down a blind alley.

Meantime, the Englishman had the edge when it came to assists, shooting, chances created and touches, which is impressive.

Thus, while Kudus is, almost inarguably, the more eye-catching talent, could Tavernier ultimately prove to be the more effective player?

West Ham now battling to hijack Inter Milan move for "gifted" £22m defender

The Hammers could continue their summer spending.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jul 16, 2025

Rohit Sharma has said that “three hours of bad cricket” does not define this Indian team and it would be unfair to judge his players on the basis of that.”I am not going to look too much into this Test match honestly because those three hours [when India were bowled out for 46] are not going to dictate what this team is,” Rohit said after India lost the first Test to New Zealand by eight wickets. “Even here, there are a lot of good things that happened as well along with the three-four hours of bad cricket.”I think it’s important to keep a consistent message in the group, which is that whenever we are put under pressure, we try to make a way into the game in whatever possible way – that is what we have been talking about.Related

• Pune set to roll out slow turner for second Test, with India looking to level series

“And we really found a way to come back into this game with the bat in the second innings. Of course, we lost a Test match. That’s why it probably won’t make sense what I am talking about. But I honestly feel there have been a lot of good things that happened in this game. So it’s just about keeping a very calm atmosphere, not to send panic messages.”After conceding a lead of 356, India made a sterling comeback in the second innings with Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal giving them a good start before Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan’s partnership took them forward. And when Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz joined forces, India started dreaming of the unimaginable – a win.While that didn’t happen, Rohit was proud of India’s fightback.”It was brilliant, especially being behind in the game, it is easy to let the game drift away, but that is not what this team is all about. This team wants to stay in the game as long as possible and not give it to the opposition that easily. After day one [two], obviously nothing went our way. We got bowled out for 46 and then they were 190 [180] for 3 and for us the start of that second [third] day was very important, to not let them get too far ahead.Sarfaraz Khan played the way he knows best•AFP/Getty Images

“But that partnership between Rachin [Ravindra] and [Tim] Southee actually just went a little ahead than what we thought. But again, in the second innings with the bat to come out and play like that, it felt like we were ahead in the game at one stage. We didn’t feel like we were 350 [356] behind and that is something that I am really proud of.”When the guys are showing that kind of attitude on the field with the bat, it shows that the mindset is very clear, and the guys want to go out there and play with freedom and try and see how we can put the pressure back on the opposition. All in all, I thought, except that first couple of hours, three hours, I thought we played a very good Test cricket.”It was not just the amount runs India scored in their second innings but also how they went about it, scoring at close to four runs an over throughout their innings. When Sarfaraz and Pant were together, they added 177 runs for the fourth wicket off 211 balls. Sarfaraz struck 18 fours and three sixes in his 150, and Pant smashed nine fours and five sixes during his 99.Rohit said India are not going to change their aggressive attitude, irrespective of whether they are ahead in the game or behind.”When we are behind the game, that is where you want to press your pedal even more, and try to make an impact, try to not let the opposition know that we are under pressure or we are behind the game. When you are actually behind, you want to try and do extraordinary things and play without any fear. It’s one thing to talk about it, but actually we went out there and played some fearless cricket.”Some of the shots some of the guys played in the middle knowing that we were 350 behind shows what we have been talking about and what they want to do out there. And that is how it’s going to stay here.Rachin Ravindra took the attack to the India spinners•AFP/Getty Images

“Even if we find ourselves ahead in the game, we are not going to change our attitude. And on the other side as well, even when we are behind the game, we are going to try to see how we can put the pressure on the opposition. Some of the Test matches we played recently show what I am talking about and that’s how it’s going to be.”We are not going to fear losing a Test match by changing our mindset. We want to have that consistent mindset of trying to find a way to win Test matches. Even though you are behind in the game, you have to find a way whether it is putting the bowler under pressure or putting the batters under pressure by doing different things.”India went in with three spinners – R Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja – for this Test but the move backfired with the trio not being as penetrative as usual. A key reason behind that was Ravindra, who scored 130 of his 173 runs across two innings against spin at a strike rate of 100. Rohit accepted he was the difference between the two sides.”In the first innings, I thought whatever we could extract from the pitch, our spinners tried and did everything possible. But some of the shots Rachin played were really, really good and he played very good cricket. He played well against the spinners, they challenged him but you got to give credit to him.”He understood what our spinners were trying to do and didn’t back off from playing his natural game, which is what gave him the result against our quality spinners. Sometimes it happens where… not sometimes actually, there will be times when some of the batters who come to India will play well against our spinners.”We saw in the England series, in the first Test match, a couple of their batters got hundreds and even here, Rachin, [Devon] Conway, they played well, put our bowlers under pressure, spinners under pressure by playing different shots which can happen, which we are expecting as well from their batters.”Anyone who is coming to India now, they are trying to put the pressure on the bowlers by doing different things, different methods but we know exactly what we are supposed to do when a situation like that arises.”

Glamorgan closing in on big win after claiming three second-innings wickets

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2024

Peter Handscomb was unbeaten at the close as Leicestershire battled for the draw•Getty Images

Leicestershire’s international pair Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb battled hard to give their side a chance of saving the game, after Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram had continued his batting masterclass.Rahane was 47 not out and Handscomb unbeaten on 33, Leicestershire 144 for 3, trailing by 155, when bad light stopped play with 21.2 scheduled overs remaining.Both the Indian and Australian were dropped by Glamorgan legspinner Mason Crane, two of his three dropped catches coming off his own bowling, in moments which may come back to haunt the home side as they chase victory on the final day.That was after Glamorgan had declared on 550 for 9, with a lead of 299, Ingram unbeaten on a personal best 257, Crane getting his day off to a better start with 49 runs to his name.Glamorgan started the day in a strong position and soon set about building on those solid foundations, with Colin Ingram carrying on as he had done over the previous two days.Having already notched his first ever double century, the fastest Glamorgan player to 1,000 runs in a season, he notched his first ever 250, confidently progressing in serene fashion.He had good support from Crane who was one short of a well deserved half century when he was dismissed in one of the most unfortunate ways possible.Ingram hit the ball firmly back down the ground, bowler Rehan Ahmed got a fingertip to the ball which went on to hit the stumps at the bowler’s end before Crane could regain his ground.New Zealander Fraser Sheat hit a breezy 34 while Ingram mainly watched on, Ned Leonard had one nice boundary before the declaration came just before lunch with Glamorgan nine down, 299 runs ahead on the first innings scores.Ingram was 257 not out, having been on the field for all but one ball of the match, batting just three minutes short of ten hours, as Glamorgan added 119 runs to their total during the morning.Leicestershire had a mountain to climb when they came out to bat, with their opening bowler, Ian Holland, also opening the batting.Both sides needed patience and Rishi Patel and Holland withstood an impressive opening salvo from Timm van der Gugten and Fraser Sheat.It was Dan Douthwaite who made the breakthrough, nipping one back to trap Patel LBW. Ned Leonard got the ball to nip back even more sharply to bowl Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill.Van der Gugten got in on the act with one which lifted outside off stump and Holland tamely lobbed it to point where Billy Root to the catch.That brought Indian Ajinkya Rahane and Australian Peter Handscomb together, who were always likely to form the nub of the resistance.Glamorgan had their chances as Rahane gave two caught and bowled opportunities to Mason Crane when on 32, but the leg spinner put them both down, the first low to his left and the second sharp to his right.Handscomb was on 26 when he pulled Sheat firmly in the air to midwicket where once again it was the unfortunate Crane who spilled the chance.There was confusion over bad light at the end of the day, but the early finish was inevitable after the umpires tried to come back on for 10 balls only to be forced to call events off in the growing gloom.

It truly was the best and the worst of times for Tottenham Hotspur last season, and though Ange Postecoglou drove his side to glory in the Europa League, his wretched Premier League form led Daniel Levy to give him the boot.

Though there has been an outpouring of rueful emotion following the news, and though Ange will likely feel aggrieved after ending 17 years of searching for silverware in north London, finishing 17th in the league was unacceptable.

It is, of course, crucial that Spurs use this critical juncture as a launching pad for future fortunes, taking Postecoglou’s foundations and building sustainable success.

Mooted managerial targets such as Fulham’s Marco Silva and former boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has since led Chelsea, don’t quite speak of a step in the right direction.

But Brentford’s Thomas Frank certainly does.

Talks are advancing for Brentford’s boss, with the Lilywhites growing in confidence that a deal will be reached now the 51-year-old has informed his club of his wish to depart.

Change, then, is afoot. With Levy moving swiftly to get a deal done, Tottenham are expected to make changes to the first team.

Let’s have a look at exactly how Frank might put his stamp on his new team.

1 GK – Guglielmo Vicario

Guglielmo Vicario has suffered through his second season in a Tottenham shirt, but he kept a clean sheet in Bilbao and made a crucial save in the dying embers of the match.

With so much going on elsewhere, it looks like the Italian will continue to ward off competition from Antonín Kinský.

2 RB – Pedro Porro

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transfer from Liverpool to Real Madrid ended Pedro Porro’s chance of moving to the Spanish capital, and though it’s been an up-and-down campaign for the right-back, he’s still an impactful and dynamic talent.

For sure, Djed Spence will be knocking on his door, but Frank’s more stable defensive game could actually see Porro go from strength to strength.

3 CB – Marc Guehi

Marc Guehi is a wanted man. Tottenham are on the case, but so too are Liverpool and Newcastle United believed to be suitors for the centre-back.

Cristian Romero is being linked with a transfer to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine is world-class, but routinely injured, and Guehi could wipe the slate clean.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

18 (18)

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

0

Clean sheets

11

2

Touches*

64.9

78.8

Pass completion

84%

90%

Key passes*

0.5

0.4

Ball recoveries*

4.3

5.0

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

3.1

Clearances*

4.6

2.9

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

4.9 (61%)

Errors made

2

2

Worth as much as £70m, Guehi would cost a pretty penny, but his technical and defensive qualities and rare absences highlight his aptness as Romero’s heir. The best ability is availability, after all.

4 CB – Micky van de Ven

Romero may get sold, particularly with Ange now gone, but Micky van de Ven will be going nowhere. Athletic, imposing and a progressive passer, his form and fitness could see him become a defining linchpin of the prospective Frank era.

5 LB – Destiny Udogie

Only starting four Premier League matches in 2025 due to injury, Destiny Udogie hasn’t elicited the awe of football fans this year, but still remains one of the most powerful and high-potential defenders across Europe.

Recent interest from Manchester City, before Pep Guardiola’s side moved for Rayan Ait-Nouri, indicates the strength of his skill set and how he could still become a first-class full-back.

Improvements, though, need to be seen. Perhaps he could take influence from how Frank crafted Rico Henry into a better player in west London.

6 CM – Lucas Bergvall

It’s crazy to think Lucas Bergvall is still only 19, thrown right into the deep end last season, playing 45 matches across all competitions.

The Swedish talent will only continue to improve, and if he takes the right steps, could become a fixed feature in Tottenham’s senior squad.

7 CM – Morten Hjulmand

TEAMtalk believe Tottenham are ready to make their move for Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand, who is also wanted by Man United. The Dane could cost around £50m.

Neither Rodrigo Bentancur nor Yves Bissouma have really cut the mustard, and both strugglers are on the verge of entering their final year at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Hjulmand is tenacious and a tough tackler, more of a natural six than the aforementioned, and he might just prove a huge difference-maker.

8 RW – Leroy Sane

Leroy Sane may end up leaving Bayern Munich this summer, and should the German winger do so, Tottenham could reportedly be there to tempt him back to the Premier League.

Though the 29-year-old has lost some of his raw pace (37th in the Bundesliga for highest-clocked speed last term), he still scored 11 goals from just 17 league starts.

This could be Frank’s new Mbeumo…

9 AM – Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski had surgery on a patella injury last month and will be sidelined for several months, but he’s still one of the most important players down N17.

He might not be as naturally prolific as James Maddison, but Deki’s industriousness and ball retention have seen him step toward the upper echelon of top midfielders, and he may well keep the Three Lions star on the bench.

10 LW – Eberechi Eze

Aside from keeping Postecoglou in the dugout, this could be the summer-defining move. Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has been heavily linked with Tottenham of late, and with a £68m release clause, could mark the marquee move of the off-season.

FA Cup “superstar” – as he’s been described by football analyst Ben Mattinson – Eze would be an incredible addition, replacing Heung-min Son at left wing. Son scored himself a fairytale ending by winning the Europa League, but recent reports suggest a fee could be generated for the 32-year-old, who is the latest high-profile Saudi Pro League target.

Eze’s pace and silky athleticism would prove the perfect way to replace the legendary skipper, that and his potency, posting 14 goals and 11 assists across the campaign.