Everton’s new ownership have wasted no time flexing their financial muscle in this summer’s transfer market.

The Friedkin Group, fresh from completing their takeover of the club, have already sanctioned high-profile deals – most notably a season-long loan for Manchester City star Jack Grealish.

They’ve also added 22-year-old French striker Thierno Barry in a £27.6 million move from Villarreal and made Carlos Alcaraz’s loan from Flamengo a permanent deal.

It’s a window that has seen a shift in ambition at Goodison Park. David Moyes, back in charge for his second stint, has been given resources that far exceed the budgets of recent seasons.

Everton are now positioning themselves to compete for targets that would have been considered out of reach not long ago. Yet the Merseyside club aren’t finished.

Reports in Italy and England claim Everton have sounded out a forward with genuine pedigree. A towering, left-footed centre-forward whose physicality and presence evoke memories of Goodison cult hero Duncan Ferguson.

Like Ferguson, he has an uncompromising edge to his game, and relishes aerial duels.

While Everton’s new No. 9 Barry will be learning the ropes in the Premier League, this potential arrival could bring not only goals, but valuable advice for the Frenchman’s development.

Everton make approach for Serie A striker

According to journalist Sébastian Vidal, that target man is none other than Juventus forward Dusan Vlahović.

The Serbian international, still just 25, has been on Everton’s radar since the opening weeks of the window. With a reported price tag of around £26m, his signing would represent a major coup.

According to Vidal, Everton made a “big move” for the former Fiorentina man, only for Vlahović to turn it down, signalling his intent to see out his contract in Turin.

Juventus finished last season in fourth place with 70 points, securing a return to the Champions League after missing out the previous year.

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Vlahović was a key contributor, registering 10 goals and four assists in Serie A, and adding two goals in three matches at the Club World Cup.

Valued at €35m (£30m) by Transfermarkt – down from a peak of €85m (£73m) in 2022 – Vlahović still carries a reputation as one of Europe’s most complete strikers. If they can change his mind, Everton would be securing a significant coup…

Why Vlahović could have been Ferguson’s heir

Standing at 1.90m, he combines physical dominance with a sharp football brain, able to drop into channels, hold up the ball, and turn defenders with deceptive agility.

He’s particularly effective inside the penalty area, where his movement pins defenders before he darts into space to meet a cross or latch onto a through ball.

According to data from FBref, his 2024/25 campaign underlines his all-round ability: 14 goal contributions in 29 games, 1.3 shots on target per 90, and 2.1 shot-creating actions.

He wins nearly half of his aerial duels, while his dribbling and link-up play allow his side to retain possession in high-pressure areas.

It’s no surprise ournalist Emmet Gates previously described him as a “Ferrari” with the potential to be “a generational talent.”

For Everton, the attraction goes beyond numbers. There’s a symbolic appeal – a forward with Ferguson’s stature, swagger, and menace.

The fans still idolise “Big Dunc”, who scored 60 of his 68 Premier League goals in Everton colours and was handed “Everton Giant” status in 2011.

Ferguson, at 1.93m, made a career out of bullying centre-halves, thriving in physical contests and using his body to protect the ball.

Vlahović mirrors that approach, but with a modern twist – adding superior ball-carrying ability, more varied movement, and a knack for combining with runners from deep.

Both are left-footed, both thrive in the air, and both carry a streak of competitive aggression that unsettles opponents.

For Everton, this was not just a chase for a name, but for a tactical fit.

Moyes’ system demands a focal point up top – a striker who can bring wide players and attacking midfielders into the game, hold possession under pressure, and still carry a goal threat in and around the box.

Vlahović would have ticked every box, and his presence could have eased the adaptation period for Barry, giving the youngster a role model in training.

The refusal doesn’t spell the end of Everton’s ambition in this window.

With funds available and a clear strategy, the club are already assessing alternatives who can deliver a similar blend of physical presence and finishing ability.

They may yet return for Vlahović if Juventus’ stance changes later in the summer, particularly if the player has a rethink about his next career move.

For now, the Friedkin Group’s intent is clear.

Landing Grealish, strengthening across the spine of the team, and targeting players of Vlahović’s calibre signals a club aiming to leave behind years of underachievement.

Supporters, long starved of a side capable of competing for Europe, have reason to believe this is the start of something more ambitious.

While Vlahović won’t be walking out in blue this weekend, the fact Everton were in the conversation for a player of his quality says plenty about the club’s new trajectory.

He's like Dibling: Everton looking at signing "special" £35m English star

Everton target former Chelsea and Arsenal star after Dibling pursuit goes cold.

By
Will Miller

Aug 15, 2025

Klaasen admits the travel is “not ideal for the bodies” but is all part of the job

Firdose Moonda03-Mar-20251:49

Is Klaasen among the best batters against spin?

South Africa have taken the 18-hour stopover in Dubai between matches in Pakistan in their stride and used the opportunity to “get out and walk and have some nice steak” between the end of the Champions Trophy group stage and their semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday.They are one of two teams, the other being Australia, who left Pakistan after their last pool match, in case they were required to play in Tuesday’s semi-final against India in Dubai. Australia are confirmed for that match, so South Africa have returned to Pakistan and viewed the quick flights as just another part of the tournament.”We knew that there was a big possibility that we might have to fly up and down,” Heinrich Klaasen said in Lahore. “It’s not ideal for the bodies, but at least we had some time to get out and walk around and get loose and just had some nice steak, to be fair. We knew it’s going to happen and it’s part of the scheduling so two teams had to do it, and unfortunately, we were one of them.”Related

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India vs Australia in Dubai semi-final; NZ vs SA in Lahore semi

SA, Australia travel to Dubai due to tangled scheduling

South Africa left Karachi on Sunday morning after confirming their final-four spot with a seven-wicket victory over England. They flew back to Pakistan on Monday at 11am, later than New Zealand, who left at 4am after losing to India on Sunday evening. As a result, Klaasen expects South Africa to be slightly more rested, especially since they did not have to leave Pakistan, as the other teams in Group A did, during the league stage.”We haven’t really travelled a lot in this competition,” he said. “It was obviously just a crazy 18 hours. They [New Zealand] played a game and they had to travel six hours after the game. We had at least that off time and we could stretch our legs and recover as well before we had to come back. I think our bodies will be in a better position than their bodies but it’s part of professional cricket at this moment. You just have to suck it up and go back and see if you can recover well and just get the job done at the end of the day.”Part of the downtime for three of the South Africa players, including Marco Jansen, also included night golf in Dubai. Though the teams are allowed to go out of their hotels in Pakistan to play golf, South Africa have not made use of this provision and have remained in their hotels, as necessitated by the security situation in the country, which is not the case in Dubai, where they are allowed out. Several other squad members used the time in Dubai to visit a mall and Klaasen confirmed none of them, apart from some support staff, watched the match between India and New Zealand.As it turns out, South Africa won’t need any intel into conditions in Dubai unless both they and India reach the final, but Klaasen pointed out obvious differences. “The conditions are quite different,” he said. “The conditions in Pakistan are quite nice to bat on, so the bowlers have a harder job to do. In Dubai, the wickets are slow, but you still have to play good cricket.”Regardless of where you play, you still need to beat two good teams. If we beat New Zealand and India beat Australia, we still have to beat India there. Or if Australia beat them, we still have to beat a good Australian team to win this trophy. Regardless of where you play, you just have to play good cricket.”After reaching a third successive knockout fixture in an ICC event, South Africa may argue that they have done exactly that – played good cricket – over the last two years and are hoping to pick up a major trophy after winning a World Cup semi-final for the first time at last year’s T20 tournament. The majority of that squad is also at this Champions Trophy and ready to go one step further.”The nerves are a little bit less because we have a little bit more experience in the semi-final department now. We’re playing good cricket,” Klaasen said. “Since I’ve been around from 2018, we have played some incredible cricket. We just had some bad luck here and there and one or two games that didn’t go our way, but we’ve been playing good cricket. It’s the rewards that we’re seeing now. The boys are holding a little bit more composure in the bigger moments in the game. Hopefully, we can get into another final. We’ve got the experience now. The big boys need to step up on Wednesday.”South Africa haven’t lost a game so far in the Champions Trophy•Associated Press

However far South Africa go, they have already eased pre-event concerns about poor form, which included being clean swept in an ODI home series for the first time, by Pakistan, and being on a six-match losing streak. White-ball coach Rob Walter put those results down to being without his first-choice players, who he believed will stand up when it counted, and he has been proven right. Klaasen asked South Africans to expect more of the same in future bilateral events, which will be used to blood players at the expense of results to ensure that the best can come together when it matters most.”The public needs to understand that after the ICC event, you’re trying to explore a little bit as a group, see what’s out there and give guys opportunities so when they need to come in as back-up players, at least they’ve got international experience,” he said. “You can’t expect a young guy to just come in and perform and win every game.”We were in a position over the last couple of years where we really tried to broaden our group a little bit. And with that will come some losses. And as long as your main team and the guys that are your first picks bring it everytime we need to come play, then I don’t see the issue.”

Juventus star Gleison Bremer is reportedly being monitored by both Liverpool and Manchester United ahead of the January window with the pair aware of a €55 million (£48m/$65m) release clause. While Juventus are keen to keep hold of Bremer, Premier League sides could potentially secure his signature by offering between €70-80 million (£61m/$82m-£70m/94m), according to Italian outlet Tutto Juve. The race is heating up as Europe’s elite monitor one of Serie A’s standout defenders.

Liverpool ‘firmly focused’ on Bremer

The report claims that Liverpool are “firmly focused” on the Brazilian, seeing him as a vital upgrade for Arne Slot’s backline. Bremer has bounced back impressively from a serious injury suffered last season, reasserting himself as one of the Serie A’s most reliable centre-backs.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMan United also in the mix

It’s not just Liverpool keeping tabs as United are reportedly monitoring Bremer’s situation closely, with Juventus fully aware of the interest from Old Trafford. Despite this, the Italian giants have made it clear informally that selling the defender is not part of their plans, at least in the winter.

Release Clause could spark January drama

Interestingly, Bremer’s contract runs until 2029, giving Juventus long-term security. However, the €55m release clause is valid between next June and July, creating a potential window for clubs to swoop in. Tutto Juve notes that if Juventus wish to remove this clause, they could offer Bremer a new contract, effectively nullifying the threat and keeping Premier League suitors at bay.

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CalciomercatoBremer’s immediate focus: Serie A battle

Amid the swirling transfer rumours, Bremer remains focused on his current responsibilities with Juventus. The Serie A side are set to face Atalanta on Saturday, and the defender will be aiming to maintain his strong form to churn out a clean sheet against the Bergamo side.

شبه جيمي كاراجر أسطورة ليفربول محمد صلاح بالأسطورة البرتغالية كريستيانو رونالدو وأوضح أنه من المبكر جداً الحكم على النجم المصري بالرحيل عن ليفربول.

وعلى الرغم من انخفاض أرقام محمد صلاح مع ليفربول بشكل طفيف في بداية الموسم الحالي بعد أن وقع عقدا جديدا لكن التوقعات تشير إلى أنه سيعود بقوة.

وقال كاراجر في عموده بصحيفة “تلجراف” البريطانية: “يتمتع ليفربول بتألق محمد صلاح على مدار السنوات السبع الماضية، ستعطينا الأسابيع السبعة المقبلة مؤشراً على مدى استمرار ذلك”.

وأضاف :”صلاح ليس في أفضل حالاته وتراجعت إحصائياته التهديفية ولا يبدو بنفس مستوى الموسم الماضي، إذا أراد ليفربول الاحتفاظ باللقب فعليه أن يحسن من أدائه قبل كأس أمم إفريقيا لضمان بقائه أساسياً كما كان دائماً مع سلوت عند عودته”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. كاراجر يوضح أسباب تراجع أداء محمد صلاح مع ليفربول: يجب أن ينهي الجدل

وذكر أيضاً كاراجر: “هناك أسباب تدعو للقلق بعد مستوياته الأخيرة، كما أن هناك دروس مفيدة من مسيرة صلاح تعد تحذير لمن يتوقعون تراجع مستواه قبل الآوان، لا تستعجلوا في الحكم على صلاح لأنه يميل لجعل الانتقادات تبدو سخيفة”.

وأضاف كاراجر:” صلاح يشبه كريستيانو رونالدو في صلابته الذهنية وعزيمته على مواصلة مسيرته في القمة والسعي وراء الأرقام القياسية، كلما زادت الشكوك حوله زادت استجابته في المواقف الصعبة في الملعب”.

وحول مواجهة محمد صلاح ضد مانشستر يونايتد أكد كاراجر:” إذا كان هناك نادي واحد يخشى من التقييمات السلبية لأداء صلاح أكثر من أي نادي آخر فهو مانشستر يونايتد، أضف إلى ذلك أنك ستلعب ضد ليفربول على ملعب آنفيلد، سجل صلاح ضد يونايتد استثنائي، سجل 16 هدفا، لم يعاني أي فريق أكثر من مانشستر يونايتد ضد صلاح، لديه سمعة كبيرة كرجل المناسبات الكبرى ويزيد عن أي لاعب آخر قدم هذه المساهمات في مباراة الفريقين بسبعة أهداف”.

وأتم كاراجر: “لقد أبقى سلوت صلاح خارج أول مباراة صعبة خارج ملعب ليفربول ضد جالطة سراي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، ولن يكون صلاح متاحاً في منتصف الموسم لذلك يجب على ليفربول أن يعتاد اللعب بدونه، على صلاح تقبل ذلك أيضاً أنه قد لا يبدأ أساسياً كل أسبوع بعد عودته وهذا ليس سهلاً على لاعب عالمي، على ليفربول أن يتجاوز صلاح ويدخل مرحلة إيزاك وفيرتز، فقط لا تراهنوا على أن صلاح سيصل لذلك في وقت لاحق”.

وختم: “مع احترامي لكل اللاعبين الكبار الذين قدموا مع يورجن كلوب ومع سلوت الآن، عندما ينظر مؤرخو كرة القدم لهذه الفترة، سيعتبرون ليفربول فريق محمد صلاح، عرف محمد صلاح بالطريقة التي عرف بها كيني دالجليش في أواخر السبعينات والثمانينات وجون بارنيز في أواخر الثمانينات وستيفن جيرارد في العقد الأول من القرن الواحد والعشرين ومثل الأساطير الذين سبقوهم حتى لاعب كرة قدم بسرعة صلاح لا يمكنه تجاوز الزمن، إنها مسألة متى وليس ما إذا سيدرك هؤلاء العظماء أنهم وقعوا في الفخ”.

Newcastle United are in the market for late attacking reinforcements and could now be set to bring in both Yoane Wissa and an additional forward in the midst of Alexander Isak’s likely departure.

Isak set to depart Newcastle United as Magpies seek alternatives

Deadline Day is finally here, and Alexander Isak is finally set to leave Newcastle United for Liverpool, bringing the curtain down on the story of the summer window.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X that the Sweden international is now set for a medical ahead of a £130 million move to Anfield, enabling Eddie Howe and PIF the chance to seek out a late replacement.

Of course, new Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade could fit that mould after signing on the dotted line from Stuttgart. However, he is unlikely to be the only arrival before tonight’s close of play.

Late on, Roma striker Artem Dovbyk has emerged as a loan target for the Magpies, in a deal that could take the form of an initial season-long agreement with an option to buy at around £30 million.

Newcastle submitted "verbal" £45m bid to sign striker target for Howe

The Magpies could end up doing some late business.

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Finalising deals at this late stage is always a race against time, but if Newcastle want to compete with their Premier League rivals after an underwhelming start to the campaign, they don’t have much of a choice.

Nevertheless, they won’t wait around for targets, something that latest developments lend credence to as Howe desperately scours the market for a striker.

Newcastle agree Wissa deal and chasing Randal Kolo Muani

According to Sacha Tavolieri on X, Newcastle are eyeing Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, who has emerged as an 11th-hour target along with Wissa.

Interestingly, while Tavolieri reports he could join instead of the Congolese striker, the Magpies appear primed to wrap up a deal for the Brentford star after Fabrizio Romano dropped his patented “here we go” on Monday morning – whether both deals are viable this late in the window remains to be seen.

Earning around £150,000 per week, Kolo Muani would be an expensive import. Still, his salary is well within PIF’s financial capabilities and wouldn’t present a major issue in the final hours of the window, with the sale of Isak affording some extra wiggle room to bring in two attackers on deadline day.

Either way, the clock is ticking as Newcastle look to make a play for his signature, indeed making this saga one to watch in the final hours of the window.

The legendary No. 6 has announced his retirement from football, giving himself the opportunity to leave before his powers truly wane.

There was a funny sequence of events that happened multiple times every game when Sergio Busquets first came to MLS. He would do Busquets thing, dropping from midfield to receive the ball deep. Soccer fans know the movements. The center backs split, Busquets lumbers back towards his own goal, just in time for the pass to come. Busquets receives on the half turn, swivels those jangly legs, and with a pivot of the hips shuffles and turns his body forward. It was the basis of what made him so excellent at Barcelona – the model of a modern defensive midfielder. 

The challenge of doing it in La Liga, of course, was the on ball pressure. Teams had figured out that in order to stifle, cutting off the outlet to Busquets might be a good start. But Busquets adjusted all the same. The pass would come. A defender would bite. Busquets would shrug them off and start an attacking move. A lot of the time – during Barca's heyday – the ball would soon end up in the back of the opponents' net.

And so when he came to MLS, Busquets expected much of the same. In his first start against Atlanta United in the Leagues Cup, Busquets went about that familiar routine: make the run, receive the pass, shrug off the defender. But as he turned in one smooth motion, almost expecting contact, none appeared. Busquets found himself remarkably open. That singular moment established the pattern of Busquets' MLS tenure. For Barcelona and his national team, he was the perfect guy to play through pressure and slow the game down when everything seemed so frantic – with and without the ball.

For Inter Miami, and in MLS, Busquets was charged with a different role: create, give the ball to Messi, and plug gaps. Soon it will be all over. Busquets announced Thursday night that he will retire from professional soccer at the end of the season. And even if Busquets isn't ending his career playing the same gorgeous tiki-taka football in the way he started it, this feels like the right time to call it a day. 

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  The glue that held it all together

  You've probably heard the Pep Guardiola quote by now. Except, Pep Guardiola never said it. Vincente Del Bosque, then Spain's manager, uttered the words that became part of the Busquets lore: "If you watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. But if you watch Busquets, you see the whole game.”

  Those words became the cop-out for describing the defensive midfielder, a part of soccer canon. Football is more complex than 19-word platitudes. But this one has stood the test of time. Del Bosque is right, in some ways. The broader point, the bit that sticks, is that Busquets isn't always the most eye-catching footballer. But everything runs through him. For Spain, you were probably watching Xavi or Andres Iniesta. For Barcelona, you were probably watching Messi, or Xavi or Iniesta (an all-time team, by the way). For Miami, you were, once again, probably watching Messi. 

  But Busquets was the glue that held it all together. He was, in many ways, the early embodiment of Pep Guardiola's footballing philosophy. Guardiola was an excellent defensive midfielder in his own right, and knew that when he took charge of Barca that he needed a No. 6 to pace his side. The story of his discovery is a bit apocryphal. Supposedly, Guardiola happened to be at a Barcelona reserve game one day, when then-youth coach Tito Vilanova poked fun at a gangly center back for being far too slow. Guardiola was awestruck, though, by his ability to play under pressure. So he called him up to Barca's senior side, made him a defensive midfielder. And the rest is history. 

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  Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets

  The ensuing years were, effectively, a masterclass of what a modern midfield could look like. Guardiola, as Barcelona manager, changed the way that many viewed football. It was no secret that he drew inspiration from the total football of Ajax and Holland. But his version of that approach was a little different. Guardiola wanted control of all three thirds of the pitch. Simplistically, the best way to do that was by having the ball and going forward as much as possible. You can't concede if your opponent never has possession. It's called Tiki-Taka. And of course, that's what made headlines. After all, this was the sexy stuff: Xavi, Iniesta, Busi – the perfect midfield triangle for club and country. You couldn't get the ball off them. 

  But what was more important for Busquets, perhaps, was the role he played when opponents have the ball. Guardiola, to this day, has a fundamental fear of being counterattacked. In his vision of football, transitions are deadly. Defensive shape is vital, and can be coached. But transitions are when chaos ensues. You really can't prepare for an opponent might hit you on the break. Well, Busquets went part of the way to solving that. Guardiola decided as Barca manager that the best solution to losing the ball was to win it back as soon as possible. 

  If his team couldn't – whether that be due to defensive inefficiencies or the opponent just being good in possession – he would ask them to drop. And Busquets was the architect of that. He knew when to step and cut a passing lane. He knew when to foul at the right time and gleefully take some of the best yellow cards you will see. This is where those defensive instincts came in. Busquets' reading of the game was unparalleled.

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  Results, influence, and remarkable success

  The results were accordingly immense. Barca, under Guardiola, were the best team on the planet. And it wasn't particularly close. They won a treble in his first season in charge. He won the La Liga title three times in a row. His crowning achievement, perhaps, was the 2010-11 Champions League final win over Man United, a game that left even the great Sir Alex Ferguson in awe. And Spain weren't bad, either. They won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championship in 2012, Busquets anchored the side in both triumphs. 

  At a club level, Guardiola kept innovating, toying with different combinations. Messi played on the wing, and then as a false nine. He experimented with Xavi playing a little higher up and Iniesta dropping deep. He got rid of Zlatan Ibrahimovic because he didn't fit the system and famously hooked Thierry Henry when he didn't follow instructions, despite the Frenchman having scored two wonderful goals in the game. But for every change, Busquets was the one constant, anchoring the team. 

  Accordingly, everyone decided to try to find the next version of the player. It gave birth to a whole generation of finely tuned defensive midfielders, all trying to do the same thing. There is a thread to be drawn from Busquets, to N'Golo Kante, to Casemiro, to Fabinho, to Rodri. None, of course, is quite the same. But imitation was the purest form of flattery. 

  "He was a player who changed the way of thinking of the central midfielder," Javier Mascherano said in a media availability Friday morning. "There would be no Rodri without Busi. That's my opinion. And well, he has created a school." 

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  The final days at Barca

  But as Busquets aged, his athletic deficiencies became more pronounced. Luis Enrique figured out how to use him effectively from 2014-2016 while at Barcelona. After that, though, a series of managers failed to protect his gangly legs. Barca were no longer as effective on the ball and too disorganized without it. There were calls from some in the Barca fanbase to move Busquets on. Perhaps his time was done. 

  There would be one last swan song, though. Xavi, his old teammate, figured out a formula to get the last juices of football out of him at an elite level during Barca's title winning season in 2023. Busquets could no longer cover so much ground. But Frenkie De Jong could. So, Xavi set up a box midfield and played De Jong alongside Busquets. 

  The result was a fine last season in Catalonia. De Jong put out fires here, there and everywhere. Busquets won tackles and shuffled the ball around. He left Barcelona with a La Liga winner's medal around his neck. It was a perfect farewell. Then it was off to South Beach.

An injury to Fakhar Zaman hampered Pakistan’s chase from the outset as they stare at a difficult ask to stay in the Champions Trophy

Deivarayan Muthu19-Feb-20254:20

Watch: NZ’s secret to playing spin: It’s about scoring not just surviving

Pakistan had to wait for nearly three decades for a global tournament to return to their country, but New Zealand spoiled their party on the opening day of the Champions Trophy, handing the co-hosts a 60-run loss in Karachi. In a short, sharp tournament, where each team plays just three group-stage games, a defeat like this might jeopardise Pakistan’s chances of making the semi-finals. Will Young and Tom Latham were the architects of their team’s victory, both batters scoring outstanding hundreds to set up the dominance that followed but there was also a little bit of luck.Two balls into the game, Fakhar Zaman suffered an injury while chasing a cover drive from Young and was forced off the field for large parts of the first innings. As result of the time spent off the field, Fakhar, whose big hitting is exactly what was necessary for a big chase, could not open the batting in their pursuit of 321. And when he came out to bat at No. 4 – Pakistan were 22 for 2 in ten overs at the time – he was visibly hampered while running between the wickets. New Zealand’s offspinners, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips, kept hiding the ball away from his reach and made life even more difficult for him. Fakhar’s tortured stay eventually ended when Bracewell bowled him with a non-turner for 24 off 41 balls.Just like Fakhar, most of the Pakistan batters failed to get out first gear, including Babar Azam who needed 81 balls for his fifty. New Zealand’s attack was depleted by the injuries to Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears, but their spinners made up for that on a pitch that offered turn and variable bounce. The spinners were so good that New Zealand didn’t need Nathan Smith, their third seamer, until the 31st over. By then Pakistan’s asking rate had almost touched ten an over.New Zealand were also depleted by the injury-enforced absence of Rachin Ravindra, but Young and Latham scored tone-setting hundreds before Glenn Phillips provided an electric finish. In all, New Zealand plundered 113 off their last ten overs to finish with 320.That total, however, had looked so far away when New Zealand were reduced to 40 for 2 in the ninth over and then 73 for 3 in the 17th over. That’s when Young got together with Latham to repair the early damage and then boss the middle overs.Young has spent much of his international career on the fringes. He might not have played this game had Ravindra been fit and despite his maiden international hundred away from home, he might make way for Ravindra once the allrounder recovers. In Kane Williamson’s absence, Young had emerged as the Player of the Series in New Zealand’s historic 3-0 sweep of India in India but was left out for Williamson in New Zealand’s very next Test against England at home. However, whenever Young gets an opportunity, he’s ready to take it, like he demonstrated once again on Wednesday.After Devon Conway was undone by a carrom ball from mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for 10 and Williamson fell for his first single-digit ODI score in six years, in the next over, Young reined himself in and saw off challenging spells from Abrar and Naseem Shah.Tom Latham and Will Young paced their centuries perfectly•Associated PressYoung brought up his third fifty-plus score in nine innings in Pakistan and converted it into a century. He got there in 107 balls in the 35th over, with Ravindra warmly applauding him from the dressing room.As for Latham, he rattled off his own hundred off 95 balls and remained unbeaten on 118 off 104 balls. It capped a remarkable turnaround for him after he had come into the tri-series final on the back of three ducks, stretching back to the Auckland ODI against Sri Lanka in January. After being assisted by multiple reprieves on his way to 56 in the tri-series final against Pakistan, Latham reminded the world of his full range. He played a variety of sweeps, including the reverse, off a variety of lengths to disrupt Pakistan’s spinners. Fifty-two of his 118 runs came square or behind square on the leg side.After Young holed out for 107, Latham forged 125-run partnership with Phillips for the fifth wicket off just 74 balls. Having been on 10 off 18 balls, Phillips surged to his fifty off his next 16 balls. He had launched Shaheen for back-to-back sixes and then when he shaped to ramp Haris Rauf over short third, he ended up toe-ending it to the fielder for 61 off 39.Phillips wasn’t done though. He produced the play of the day when he leapt to his left from point, stuck out one hand above his head and held onto a screamer to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan for 3 off 14 balls on the last ball of the first powerplay. Will O’Rourke had already dismissed Saud Shakeel, the makeshift opener in place of Fakhar, for 6 in the fourth over. Matt Henry, who had missed the tri-series final with a knee niggle, also kept it tight in the first powerplay, which yielded Pakistan only 22 for 2.It was Pakistan’s lowest score in the first ten overs since March 2019 and third lowest in the history of the Champions Trophy. There would be no way back for them, despite late blows from Khushdil Shah, who hit 69 off 49 balls, and the lower order. Pakistan were ultimately bowled out for 260 in the 48th over.In his first match at a global event as New Zealand captain, Santner came away with three wickets though he took some tap at the end. For the third time in a space of two weeks, New Zealand put Pakistan away with ruthless efficiency and embellished their status as title contenders.

Kerala’s pace trio of Nedumankuzhy Basil, MD Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom ensured that Vidarbha did not run away with the advantage on day two of the Ranji Trophy final in Nagpur. Aditya Sarwate, who is a bowling allrounder otherwise, was promoted to No. 3. The move came off as he finished the day unbeaten on 66 to carry Kerala to 131 for 3.Vidarbha, finalists from the previous edition, did post a challenging total, though. Nachiket Bhute, who came in at No. 11, scored a crucial 32 off 38 balls. The 44-run stand between Bhute and Harsh Dubey for the tenth wicket extended the first session from its scheduled two-and-a-half-hour duration to three hours and took Vidarbha to 379.Darshan Nalkande then took out both Kerala openers in his first two overs. They recovered, thanks to a 93-run stand between Sarwate and Ahammed Imran. The latter fell to a Yash Thakur bouncer close to stumps, but Sarwate and Sachin Baby ensured that Imran’s was the last wicket to fall on the day.The day started with Vidarbha on 254 for 4 and runs flew early on. Thakur flicked the first ball of the day to the midwicket boundary and the fifth ball of the next over to the square-leg boundary. Nidheesh found some swing and adjusted his lengths to keep the batters in check, but Apple Tom’s lines were inconsistent and he was driven when he bowled full.An attempted bumper to Danish Malewar was pulled behind square for the first six of the day. It brought up his 150, and reduced Apple Tom’s opening spell to a two-over stint, in which he went for 18 runs.Danish Malewar puts one away during his 153•PTI

Vidarbha slowed down after the introduction of Basil as he offered Nidheesh support and his team control. The latter induced an outside edge off Thakur in the 95th over but it didn’t carry to gully. In the next one, Basil got one to nip back and smash Malewar’s stumps to end his innings on 153.Bassil removed the other set batter, Thakur. He angled in a full ball from wide of the crease to beat Thakur on the flick and pin him lbw.Apple Tom’s return in the next over was rewarded with the wicket of Yash Rathod, who is Vidarbha’s highest run-getter this season so far. A length ball from around the wicket straightened off the pitch, took the edge, and was caught at first slip as Vidarbha slumped to 297 for 7.The Yashes were gone, but the two Akshays – Wadkar and Karnewar – kept the innings afloat with a 36-run stand for the eighth wicket. Wadkar punched Basil through the covers off the back foot, and Karnewar picked up a streaky boundary each off Apple Tom and Basil. Wadkar carved a six just over deep-backward point off Nidheesh before a streaky boundary came in the form of leg-byes.The stand was broken when Rohan Kunnummal took a sharp, low catch at cover to dismiss Karnewar. In what was supposed to be the final over before lunch, Wadkar went for a powerful cut but the length ball from Apple Tom seamed away, took the edge and led to a caught behind.Bhute smashed two sixes off Jalaj Saxena, the first of which took Vidarbha past 350. Dubey, his partner, was comfortable as he rotated strike and swept Saxena for four. The stand went past the 35-over session, which yielded 119 runs and five wickets, but ended 13 balls later as Bhute was out caught behind off Nidheesh while trying to run a back-of–good-length ball to deep third.Aditya Sarwate brings up his half-century•PTI

Nalkande speared in a yorker on off stump in the first over to catch Kunnummal by surprise. The ball dribbled onto the stumps off the bat and Vidarbha were rolling. From the other end, Thakur missed his line and went for three boundaries. That didn’t stop Nalkande, though, as he swung in a full ball to catch the inside edge of Akshay Chandran’s drive that clattered onto the stumps.Thakur overpitched again and Sarwate cover drove his way from 0 to 8. In his next over, he bowled a short ball that was cut past cover for four more. Kerala were 30 for 2 off six overs, with 28 runs coming off Thakur.A double-change nearly worked for Vidarbha after that as Bhute drew an edge off Imran’s bat but Atharva Taide, the substitute fielder, dropped the chance at second slip. Sarwate picked up two more boundaries through the off side as Kerala breezed through to tea on 57 for 2.The batters looked assured in the final session that began with spin. Parth Rekhade was replaced by Nalkande after being swept for two fours in consecutive overs. Dubey, the highest wicket-taker in the tournament by a distance, found turn and stacked back-to-back maidens with Nalkande. While Nalkande created two near chances in the 24th over, the batters were safe.Sarwate hit Nalkande for two fours in his next over and ended his spell. He brought up fifty and Kerala’s hundred in the 30th over. Thakur tried out the bouncer which cost him a boundary but earned Imran’s wicket soon after as the batter miscued a pull to midwicket. Sarwate picked up a couple more boundaries with Baby holding fort at the other end as Kerala finished the day trailing Vidarbha by 248.

Glasgow Rangers were not willing to sit on their hands and go again with the same squad or management team at Ibrox after ending the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy.

The Light Blues appointed Russell Martin to be their new head coach and brought in 12 new recruits to bolster the Rangers playing squad for the current season.

It has not been an ideal start to the campaign, though, as they have failed to win any of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership under their new manager.

Joe Rothwell is one of the new signings who has failed to hit the ground running, as he was subbed off at half-time in the 6-0 loss to Club Brugge and dropped down to the bench for the clash with Celtic on Sunday.

Joe Rothwell's early struggles at Rangers

The central midfielder was signed from Bournemouth on a permanent deal this summer with a view to him playing in the number six position in Martin’s 4-3-3 system.

At the age of 30, Rothwell is an experienced player who was signed to make an instant impact at Ibrox. He is not a young and promising player who needs time to develop and grow.

That is why his early struggles, compounded by being dropped for the Celtic game after starting the first three league matches, are a concern for the Scottish giants.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

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Rothwell needs to turn things around and show the supporters that he can impact and influence games in the number six role week-in-week-out, because, at the moment, he looks like a downgrade on John Lundstram, who left the club last year.

Rangers had a howler with John Lundstram

In a similar move to the one that brought Rothwell to Ibrox this year, Lundstram signed for the Gers on a free transfer from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021, and went on to enjoy a successful spell in Scotland.

Former Rangers defender Maurice Ross described the English midfielder as the “cornerstone” of the team and claimed that he “was strolling about the pitch like Graeme Souness” in 2022.

The former Blades ace went on to score 11 goals, including the one against Borussia Dortmund above, in 153 matches for the club in all competitions, per Transfemarkt.

Premiership

Lundstram (23/24)

Rothwell (25/26)

Appearances

34

4

Long passes per game

5.6

1.3

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

2.0

Clearances per game

1.0

0.0

Duels won per game

3.8

2.5

Aerial duel success rate

55%

33%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Lundstram produced more impressive performances in his last season at Rangers in the Premiership than Rothwell has managed in the current campaign.

Despite that, Philippe Clement allowed the English central midfielder to leave the club at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, and signed Connor Barron on a free transfer from Aberdeen.

Ultimately, that decision has turned out to be a howler for Rangers and Clement because Martin has swooped to sign Rothwell 12 months later to replace Barron as a number six.

On top of that, Rothwell still appears to be a downgrade on Lundstram, which means that the Light Blues have yet to successfully replace the star who was once compared to Souness, despite them allowing him to leave for nothing last year.

Related Rangers could get Ibrox rocking by sacking Martin for "kamikaze" manager

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Posts ByDan Emery Sep 2, 2025

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Deu certo a torcida do Corinthians contra América-MG, Goiás e Vasco neste domingo (11). Nenhum desses times venceram, e o Timão se manteve fora da zona do rebaixamento do Campeonato Brasileiro, na 16ª colocação. O que é muito importante, principalmente porque o Campeonato Brasileiro terá uma pausa de 10 dias, por conta das datas que a Fifa reserva para os jogos entre seleções. 

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No caso dos jogos de América e Goiás, bastava qualquer vitória dessas equipes, que jogavam em casa contra Athletico-PR e Fluminense, respectivamente, lançaria os corintianos para a zona da degola. Porém, ambas as equipes, que tinham sete pontos, empataram em 2 a 2 com os seus adversários e foram a oito, uma a menos que o Time do Povo, que tem nove. 

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

Já no caso do Vasco, a necessidade era de uma vitória por dois gols de diferença sobre o Internacional, em Porto Alegre, para igualar o Corinthians em pontos e ultrapassar em saldo de gols. Porém, o Cruz-Maltino foi derrotado por 2 a 1, no Gigante da Beira Rio, com o ex-corintiano Lucas Piton perdendo um gol incrível, que empataria o jogo, mas, mesmo assim, não seria o suficiente para os cariocas deixarem o Coringão para trás. 

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Internamente, há uma confiança muito grande no Timão que a pausa das datas Fifa será fundamental para que o clube alvinegro entre no prumo, já que desde que Vanderlei Luxemburgo o máximo de tempo que ele teve entre duas partidas foram seis dias. Agora, serão 11 dias entre o último compromisso da equipe, que aconteceu neste sábado (10), contra o Cuiabá, e o próximo, agendado para o dia 21 de junho, contra o Santos, na Vila Belmiro, ambos pelo Brasileirão. 

+ Ruan Oliveira entra no segundo tempo e evita derrota do Corinthians contra o Cuiabá

– São 10 dias. Terça, quinta e sábado, full time, depois a gente volta se preparando para enfrentar o Santos, para dar corpo a equipe com desenho tático – disse o técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo após o empate com o Dourado neste fim de semana.

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O elenco corintiano ganhou folga no dia seguinte ao jogo contra a equipe do Mato Grosso e terá mais um dia de descanso nesta segunda-feira (12). A retomada dos trabalhos será na manhã desta terça-feira (13) com atividade em dois períodos, como também acontecerá na quinta-feira (15) e sábado (17). No próximo domingo (18), os atletas ganharão nova folga e depois intensificaram a preparação para o clássico contra o Santos.